Shedeur Sanders moving Buffs closer to berth in Big 12 Title Game

BOULDER, Colo. — The Buffaloes have two games left, and they’re fighting for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, so there’s no margin for error.

No one understands that more than quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who’s having an amazing campaign of his own, and wants to carry his team to the finish line. Colorado has Kansas up next, and will be playing on the road in a hostile environment at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Buffaloes haven’t lost a road game in Big 12 play this season, and Sanders plans on keeping it that way. However, the Jayhawks are on a two-game winning streak after taking down two upper-echelon Big 12 teams, and fighting for bowl eligibility. Sanders understands that the Buffaloes are the hunted approaching this matchup, so he refuses to overlook a 4-6 team.

“Practice is very competitive, because they have a great team, great scheme, great coaching overall, and it’s definitely going to be a matchup,” Sanders said. “It’s definitely going to be a task that we’re going to deal with and be successful in, but of course how they play, their scheme and everything fits them well, and what they’re good at.”

Colorado (8-2) appears to be light years ahead of where it was a year ago, with a Big 12 Title and Playoff berth within grasp. Sanders and teammate Travis Hunter find themselves as Heisman contenders, and the No. 16 Buffaloes are currently tied in first place of the Big 12 standings.

Sanders credits those tremendous strides to the culture his father is cementing with the program. Coach Prime obviously has the Buffaloes a year ahead of schedule, and Sanders believe the team is closer than ever before.

“Our o-linemen have a better attitude, receivers too, I think overall as a team we have a better attitude about going about things,” he said. “Growth is some of the things we were lacking last year, and that’s what I’m trying to avoid doing, but things tend to happen, you got pros and cons with things.”

The team is having a lot of success, and that’s giving the Jayhawks more reasons to try and bring them down. There are a lot of distractions out there for the Buffaloes too, including Heisman hype, NFL Draft projections, and chatter of Coach Prime leaving the program for a bigger job.

So staying focused on the task at hand is a priority, and Sanders refuses to overlook any opponent, especially Kansas. The Jayhawks have an explosive offense, and their quarterback Jalon Daniels can match Sanders blow for blow. Although Colorado returns home for Senior Day against Oklahoma State, it has to go through Kansas first to keep those postseason glory hopes alive. Which is why Sanders isn’t thinking about the Playoffs right now.

“The main thing is to win the Big 12 Championship, because that was on the schedule before the year even started,” the 22-year old said. “We can’t look at the Playoffs if you drop a game, that’s not even a question, we know what comes with the success, so we can’t look too deep into anything else.”

Sanders is currently tied for second nationally in touchdown passes, and ranks eighth in total offense. Kansas’ defense ranks 81st in the FBS in passing yards allowed, so something has to give. Nothing is going to stop Sanders confidence though, and he feels he’s this year’s best quarterback, as well as last season’s. He’s going to have every opportunity to prove that against two of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

Kansas’ Ra’Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant are flat-out ballhawks, who have combined for nine interceptions in 2024, and returned two of those for touchdowns. The duo has Sanders’ full attention, as well as the rest of the Jayhawks’ defense.

“They’re doing a great job, that’s why they’ve been able to win a couple of games, pull off some upsets lately, and we understand that.”