Colorado won its Big 12 opener on a one-yard touchdown run by Micah Welch in overtime to beat Baylor 38-31. The Bears appeared to tie the game on the next possession, but Colorado’s Travis Hunter hit Dominic Richardson, forcing a fumble as the running back attempted to jump over the goal line.
The game went into overtime after Baylor took a 31-24 lead on Sawyer Robertson’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Hal Presley with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter. Colorado then had a chance to score a game-winning touchdown after Isaiah Hankins missed a 45-yard field goal that would have extended Baylor’s lead to 10 points. Will Sheppard dropped a 43-yard touchdown at the 5-yard line.
But on the next play with two seconds remaining, Shedeur Sanders rolled left and connected with LaJohntay Wester on a sliding catch in the end zone, tying the score at 31 – 31. Thirty years after Kordell Stewart threw a 64-yard Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook at Michigan Stadium, Colorado scored another miracle throw.
The unlikely ending became even more exciting when Colorado fans stormed the field before the game was officially over, unaware that Richardson’s fumble was being reviewed.
Sanders rushed for 341 yards and two touchdowns through the air, completing 25 of 41 passes. Hunter caught seven passes for 130 yards. His 31-yard catch late in the third quarter led to the Buffaloes tying the game at 24-24 with a two-yard touchdown run by Welch. And on defense, he forced the game-winning fumble.
Hunter has 37 pass catches for 472 yards and five touchdowns this season. He has also caught 100 yards in five consecutive games, making him the first Colorado player to accomplish that feat.
The Buffaloes scored the first touchdown of the game, capping a 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Sanders. But Baylor found the end zone on three of its next four possessions. First, Monaray Baldwin made a spectacular diving catch for a 30-yard touchdown.
After a Colorado field goal tied the score at 10-10, the Bears scored on the ensuing kickoff when Jamaal Bell returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown. After Bell found an opening at Baylor’s 30-yard line, he left all pursuers behind the rest of the way.
Baylor took a 24-10 lead when Robertson pulled a quarterback up the middle on fourth-and-1, but then broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run.
Colorado pulled within 24-17 on its final possession of the first half. After a holding penalty on Jordan Seaton pushed the Buffaloes back to their own 25, Sanders completed a 17-yard pass to Jimmy Horn Jr. for midfield. On the next play, Sanders ducked a tackle from Steve Linton, who was charging around the edge, before rolling right and firing a pass to Omarion Miller.
Miller appeared to have been tackled deep, but his knee never touched the ground and he regained his balance, ran 35 yards into the end zone and completed a 58-yard touchdown pass. Replay confirmed that Miller’s left knee did not touch the ground and the score was correct.
Saturday’s game was the Buffaloes’ first Big 12 matchup at Folsom Field since 2010. Colorado left the conference the following season to join the Pac-12, but returned to the Big 12 this year.
Colorado travels to UCF (3-0) next Saturday, while Baylor faces BYU. Kickoff times for both games have not yet been announced.
