Deion Sanders delivered a constant message after Colorado beat No. 17 TCU during the season-opener 45-42 on Saturday.
“Do you believe now?” Sanders said. “Hold on, hold on. Oh no, oh no. Do you believe now?”
The Buffaloes matched their win total from a season ago under the new head coach, and Sanders prevailed over a team that advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship a season ago.
There are 87 newcomers to the Colorado program and nine returning scholarship players, and the new-look Buffaloes claimed victory in Sanders’ debut at the helm.
“Ain’t none of y’all believe that,” Sanders said. “Maybe a couple of y’all that knew me and know how I get down. They know I’m a winner. We’re going to end up winning.”
Sanders’ son Shedeur Sanders led the offense behind a record-breaking performance. He threw for a school-record 510 yards and four touchdowns, completing passes at a 38-for-47 clip.
Shedeur Sanders had 345 yards come through the air in the second half. He provided a boost with three second-half touchdown passes including the game winner through a 46-yarder with more than four minutes left to play.
“It’s crazy that we put up the numbers and we wasn’t even at our best,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I missed two deep balls early, silly penalties, but this was our first time really growing with each other, trusting each other, understanding each other in a game-like, in a real environment.”
Travis Hunter stood out on both sides of the ball. The sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia, was a former No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022.
Hunter played both cornerback and wide receiver, and made plays on both sides that showed he’s more than capable wherever he is. Hunter caught 119 yards on 11 catches and also made three tackles along with a pass-break up.
“A lot of people doubted me because I rated myself as No. 1 Heisman watch list, but now people praising me now because they know what I can do,” Hunter said. “They finally see what I see in my vision or what the coaches’ vision is for me.”
Hunter said “it’s all on your body” playing more than 110 snaps in a game “but that’s what you got treatment for.”
“It’s fun,” Hunter said. “ liked going out there. I didn’t get a touchdown today but I got an interception, so that’s just going to help my stats. It’s going to help the team. Whatever I could do to help the team is what I want to do.”
Hunter also had a crucial interception at the goal line when TCU quarterback Chandler Morris looked to his right in the third quarter.
“I’m like, ‘This receiver is in close. He’s got to be going under,’” Hunter said. “So if he goes under, I know nobody got the back and if they got the back, they’re not going to get over there fast enough. So I took two steps to my right and then when I looked at the quarterback, he was winding up to throw it so I just took off and broke on the ball and picked it off.”
Colorado’s improbable early success will give Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes a push of momentum as they continue their mission.
The Buffaloes will next play Nebraska at home on FOX Big Noon Saturday, which will feature Colorado for a second-straight week, and host Colorado State before ranked matchups against No. 15 Oregon and No. 6 USC take place on the road.
For now, Hunter, the Sanders’ and Colorado will keep on believing.
“Travis is him, like the young folks say. Travis is it,” Deion Sanders said. “I really think you know. I always promote all my kids. I really think we got a couple of guys that should be frontrunners for the Heisman right now. Really, that’s how I feel.”
