Colorado football stars Shedur Sanders and Travis Hunter had impressive performances in the Buffaloes' win over Oklahoma State on Friday.
Sanders threw five touchdowns in a 52-0 win over the Cowboys, and Hunter caught 10 passes for 116 yards in Colorado's final regular-season game. The two-way star intercepted one of Oklahoma State quarterback Ma'aliuaki Smith's passes.
Before the game, Shedur and his brother and teammate Shiloh Sanders arrived at the Buffaloes' home base accompanied by their father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
Shedur is widely expected to be one of the first players taken in next year's NFL Draft. Hunter, a Heisman Trophy candidate, is also likely to be drafted in the first round.
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Colorado Buffaloes players Shedur Sanders (2 years old) and Travis Hunter (12 years old) celebrate after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado on November 29, 2024. . (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
The NFL prospects of Shedeur and Hunter have sparked some speculation about whether the star players will miss Colorado's bowl game, which has yet to be determined. But the Buffaloes' signal handler says they will play in the bowl game.
“This is a team issue,” Sanders said Friday. “If me and T and some of the other guys weren't there, the Buffs wouldn't look the same. We don't know what our role is for the team as a whole. I understand how much of a leader he is and how many players expect that from him.''If we're not doing it out there, be there. ”
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Colorado needs help to advance to the Big 12 title game on Saturday. If the Buffs can't figure it out, playing in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 or the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 would be a good bet. It will be Colorado State's first bowl game in a non-coronavirus season since 2016. They haven't won a bowl game since 2004.
Rajon Tay of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates with Travis Hunter, 12, and Shedur Sanders, 2, after a first-quarter touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field in Boulder, Calif., on Nov. 29, 2024. – Wester (10 years old). (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
The popularity and importance of bowl games has declined since the introduction of the College Football Playoff, and this year the system has been expanded from four teams to 12 teams.
Many top players have chosen to sit out the second-tier bowl games, but Sanders said the Buffs will all be present and playing.
“Our kids are going to be in bowl games because that's what we signed up for,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer said. “We're going to finish it. We're not going to tap out, because that would put us out of position for next season.”
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders waves to the crowd before a game against North Dakota State on Aug. 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Sanders played at Florida State University before entering the NFL. Last season, the Seminoles were eliminated from the four-team playoffs despite an undefeated record. Many players withdrew from the Orange Bowl, and the Seminoles lost to Georgia 63-3.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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