Colorado vs. North Dakota State score, takeaways: Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders star as Buffaloes rally

The Colorado superstars stepped up in a big way on Thursday night as the Buffs survived a scare from their FCS foe

Make that a Travis hat trick 🧢#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/XuzTaIbQ6I

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 30, 2024

Colorado survived a scare against FCS power North Dakota State on Thursday night, edging the Bison 31-26 behind a big night from quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter. The Buffaloes’ defense also found its footing after a rough start as coach Deion Sanders’ club rallied from a halftime deficit to start the season 1-0.

North Dakota State scored on its first four possessions and led 20-17 after two quarters behind the dual-threat dynamism of quarterback Cam Miller. But Colorado came up with a pair of third-down stops in the third quarter to get NDSU off the field and return the football to its explosive offense.

Colorado took 8:07 off the clock with a 17-play, 80-yard scoring drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. Hunter capped the drive with a contested touchdown catch to put the Buffs ahead 31-20.

The Bison responded with their first touchdown of the second half to pull within 31-26 with 2:19 remaining. NDSU got the football back with 32 seconds remaining and one final chance to pull a stunner. They couldn’t make it 92 yards for a game-clinching score with no timeouts remaining, however, as CU’s defense held on in a dramatic moment.

Sanders surpassed 400 yards passing for the third time during his 12th appearance in a Colorado uniform as he repeatedly got the football into the hands of an explosive group of playmakers. Returning receivers Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. combined for more than 300 yards receiving, highlighted by Hunter’s three touchdowns. Transfer targets LaJohntay Wester (FAU) and Will Sheppard (Vanderbilt) also made substantive contributions.

Their distributor was nearly impeccable as Sanders repeatedly evaded pressure to keep plays alive before finding targets downfield. His lone turnover came on a fluke play in the third quarter, when his throw to the end zone bounced off the foot of a defender and catapulted into the air for an easy Bison interception.

Read on below for takeaways from Colorado’s season-opening win over North Dakota State.