Colorado returned to the realm of reality Saturday, losing 42-6 to Oregon on the road in its first blemish in four games under coach Deion Sanders.
The game was never particularly close, as the No. 10 Ducks rolled up 522 yards against just 199 for the No. 19 Buffaloes. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders—so potent in victories over TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State—was held to 159 yards and a just one touchdown through the air.
Despite the exposure of his team's growing pains in front of a national audience, the elder Sanders was measured and realistic in his postgame presser.
“A good, old-fashioned butt kicking. No excuses,” Sanders said, per The Athletic‘s David Ubben. “Their coaches did a good job preparing their team. Obviously, we didn’t.”
Sanders, whose tenure leading the Buffaloes has brought unprecedented hype to a program that has largely spent the last three decades dormant, denied that Colorado was arrogant in the week leading up to its biggest game in years.
"People around the country will say this is what they needed to humble themselves. We weren’t arrogant," Sanders insisted. "We’re confident people. Our confidence offends their insecurity."
Deion Sanders: "People around the country will say this is what they needed to humble themselves. We weren’t arrogant. We’re confident people. Our confidence offends their insecurity."
— David Ubben (@davidubben) September 23, 2023
The Buffaloes will soon find themselves thrown back into the fire, as a home date with No. 5 USC looms on Sept. 30.
