After three games setting the college football world alight, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders floated gently back to Earth on Saturday afternoon.
A lackluster 159-yard, one-touchdown afternoon against Oregon put a temporary pause on the Sanders-for-Heisman whispers emanating from the Rocky Mountains — especially as conference mates such as the Ducks’ Bo Nix, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., USC’s Caleb Williams and Washington State’s Cameron Ward have thrived.
However, Sanders remains on pace to break several noteworthy Buffaloes school passing records.
Through four games, the Texas native and son of coach Deion Sanders has thrown for 1,410 yards—the second-highest total in the country behind Penix. Extrapolated to 13 games— assuming Colorado attains bowl eligibility—that figure projects to 4,582 yards, easily surpassing Sefo Liufau’s record of 3,200 in 2014. That projected total would rank among the 50 most prolific passing seasons in FBS history.
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Sanders also has completed 130 passes and thrown 11 touchdowns, putting him on pace for 422 completions and 35 TD passes in a 13-game season. Liufau currently holds both those records as well, with 325 completions and 28 touchdowns for a 2-10 Buffaloes team in ’14.
Despite taking some lumps at Oregon, Sanders clearly is enjoying an impressive statistical season. Colorado will return to action against No. 8 USC—a team ranked 47th in the country in scoring defense—Saturday at noon ET in Boulder.
