Bad Blood in Colorado: Must Win for Buffs & Rams

Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are looking for more than just a win this week when they suit up against their in-state rivals Colorado State Rams. The wheels look as though they're about to come completely off the bus for the Buffs and they've only played eight quarters of football this year.

Following an embarrassing loss to Nebraska, Shedeur Sanders chose to throw his offensive line under the bus when, during last week's post-game presser, he compared how many times he was sacked to how many times Nebraska's Dylan Raiola was sacked. His overall demeanor showed a defeated leader who had no real answers.

Coach Sanders did a little better during his portion of the press conference and admitted that he's was searching for something to keep his team's head up. From the looks of things, there's not much to go on.

But, fighters find a way to win. The only question is whether Coach Sanders is able to ignite that spark, as great coaches can.

Colorado and Colorado State had a rivalry that was relevant mostly to Coloradans. Last season, however, their matchup took their rivalry national.

Last year, Colorado was a three-touchdown favorite but needed double overtime to win against the Rams in Boulder.

Shilo Sanders started the showdown with a pick-6. Colorado State had three more turnovers and a blocked field goal. Nevertheless, they were leading by eight points with about two minutes remaining in regulation.

Colorado was able to eek out a tie with 0:36 left in the game with a dominant 98-yard drive in under two minutes, ending with a 45-yard touchdown strike from Shedeur to Jimmy Horn Jr. and two-point conversion. The back and forth double overtime, ending at 12:30 a.m. local with Colorado fans storming the field, cemented this rivalry.

Not taking anything away from Colorado's gutsy come-back win, but Colorado State played just as bad as a team could play and still be competitive in a game. The Rams accounted for 17 penalties for a massive 182 yards, more than both teams' combined rushing yards. They also got flagged for a block below the waist that nullified a touchdown in the second overtime.

The Rams are still feeling the sting from last season.

Starting Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi called out Deion Sanders and the rest of the Colorado team ahead of this week's game. Referencing last year's game, Fowler-Nicolosi taunted, "They came out with that attitude and thought it was going to be a cakewalk. They got a rude, rude awakening real quick. I think it goes to show the hype, the media train, all that only gets you so far. At the end of the day, you have to line up 11 guys against our 11 guys and we'll find out who wants it more."

He didn't stop there. He twisted the knife: "We'll see how far Instagram followers gets them."

And if there's any question as to how other Colorado State players feel, wide receiver Tory Horton made it clear: "We owe them one. That's been sittin' on everybody's minds since we came back from break. We owe them," Horton told CBS Colorado. "I don't feel like we left it all on the field because we should have murdered them guys. They came out with that attitude as they were on top of the world. This ain't no Cinderella story."

Even the two coaches have bad blood between them.

"When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off," Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said prior to the 2023 game. "That's what my mother taught me."

That made it personal for "Coach Prime."

When the coaches shook hands after the game, Norvell told Sanders that he wasn't talking about his family with this pregame quote.

"Oh, you was talking about my momma," Sanders replied, which was captured by cameras from Amazon's "Coach Prime."

"No, I was not," Norvell said.

"Yes, you were. You were. You were," Sanders said as the two coaches walked away.

Getcha popcorn ready! (And take off your hat if you watch the game indoors)