Colorado head coach Deion Sanders says Colorado State showed “disrespect” toward his program before Saturday night’s intrastate rivalry game.

Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter responded by leading their team to a 28-9 road victory.

“Wonderful game. Personal game. Heartfelt game. Emotional game. That’s kind of how they do it,” Sanders said after the win, according to DNVR’s Jake Schwanitz. “The disrespect was uncalled for during the week. We knew it was going to get a little personal coming into the game. I just pray our kids would never act like that because you all would have a blast.”

“A hell of a win. The offense was phenomenal. The defense picked up right where it did in the second half of last week’s game.”

The week before the game, Romi Bean of CBS News Colorado published an interview from Colorado State’s media day in which quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton challenged their in-state rivals.

The Rams players were referring to last year’s game between Colorado and Colorado State, where the Buffaloes needed double overtime to win a close home game.

“They came in with that mindset and thought it was going to be a breeze,” Fowler-Nicolosi told CBS News Colorado of the 2023 matchup (transcription h/t Fox Sports). “They had a rude awakening very quickly. I think it shows that the hype, the media hype and all that only takes you so far. At the end of the day, you have to put 11 guys against our 11 guys and we’ll find out who wants it more. We’ll see how far they get with Instagram followers.”

Horton added: “The millions of followers and fans that they have generated and gained, and the celebrities that have jumped on their side because Deion Sanders is who he is. At the end of the day, Deion Sanders is not playing. It’s these players that are playing. So these players better back up what they’re talking about.”

Sanders said after the win that he was pleased with his team’s response to the Colorado State players’ comments, but said the Buffaloes were “upset” for allowing the Rams to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Colorado still managed to post the team’s biggest win of the season so far, after narrowly beating North Dakota State in the season opener and losing to rival Nebraska last week. Sanders is hoping to carry that momentum into next Saturday’s home game against Baylor.