In Colorado’s first game under head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes exploded onto the scene against last year’s national runner-up TCU. Despite entering the game as 20.5-point underdogs, Colorado pulled off the upset with a 45–42 victory over the Horned Frogs.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is also Deion’s son, came with his father after two years as the starter at Jackson State. In his Colardo debut, Sanders put up 510 passing yards and four touchdowns, breaking a Colorado record for most passing yards in a game. Former top recruit Travis Hunter also made the move from Jackson State, and the two-way player impressed on both sides of the ball with 119 yards receiving and an interception.
All in all, fans and analysts were stunned and impressed by Colorado’s performance after a 1–11 season last year.
IT’S A NEW ERA FOR COLORADO FOOTBALL 😎
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 2, 2023
The Buffaloes take down No. 17 TCU, 45-42, to begin their 2023 season pic.twitter.com/vBOx0peoQ1
Coach Prime....... respect that man
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 2, 2023
the real deal
Do not care one bit that TCU is obviously much worse this season. Colorado was a truly desolate program nine months ago and they just beat the reigning runners-up on the road in their first game under a new coach. That’s an incredible showing
— Patrick Mayhorn (@patrick_mayhorn) September 2, 2023
I've been watching college football for about 50 years, and Coach Prime just delivered the most amazingly improbable debut I've ever seen...by far.
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) September 2, 2023
Crazy to see what Deion and Colorado has done already! 💪🏽💪🏽
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) September 2, 2023
It cannot be understated what Deion Sanders did today.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 2, 2023
To turn the whole Colorado program around from what it was last season to today beating a team that played in the National Championship last season…
It’s one thing to talk about it.
It’s another to actually do it.
Wow.
Of all the incredible things Deion accomplished during the incredible career this might be the most impressive. Doing it with his son at QB makes it even more special. Sports is awesome!
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 2, 2023
Deion and his team backed up all the hype. pic.twitter.com/BuuhaxnpVj
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 2, 2023
I can’t believe Deion Sanders came to 1-11 Colorado…
— Sami ON Tap (@SamiOnTap) September 2, 2023
& in GAME ONE, beats #17 TCU, who was in the Natty last year.
Colorado is not a gimmick. This is a movement. This is insane to see.
They will be Top 25 after ONE game this year. ONCE AGAIN 1-11 last year. pic.twitter.com/Ttryl5ZLdS
Can’t overstate how blown away I am by what Coach Prime and his team just did.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 2, 2023
Last year’s @CUBuffsFootball were so bad that we wouldn’t let our @seniorbowl scouts evaluate tape when CU was the opponent.
And TCU had plenty NFL talent on that field today. 🤯
Unreal.
The Colorado Buffs are back!! Deion is a legit coach and mentor to his players!! Shedeur is an elite QB and my early Heisman winner!!
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) September 2, 2023
All of a sudden, Sanders has thrust Colorado to the front of the national stage with multiple potential Heisman candidates after the Buffaloes had a disastrous 2022 season. The NFL Hall of Famer hyped his team up a lot during the offseason, and one game into the season, Colorado has backed it up.
