Colorado used big plays from both the offense and the defense to defeat Central Florida on the road, 48-21. Shedeur Sanders completed 28-of-35 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense forced four turnovers, including a 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown by safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig to seal the game with five minutes remaining.
The Buffs were out-gained on the steamy afternoon (85-degrees at kickoff, with 78-percent humidity) by the Knights, 461 yards to 418, but never trailed. Three different receivers scored, with Will Sheppard scoring on a 47-yard pass from Sanders to lead the team with 99 yards on only four receptions. Travis Hunter had his five-game streak of 100-yard receiving games broken, collecting nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. LaJohntay Wester, the hero of the Baylor comeback the week before, had three catches for 34 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown.
The CU running game, while not outstanding, was effective for the first time in memory. Three backs – Isaiah Augustave, Dallan Hayden, and Micah Welch – had a combined 20 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, with Shedeur Sanders being sacked only twice, the Buffs finished with a season-best 128 yards rushing.
Four turnovers were certainly the key to the CU defense holding UCF to 21 points, but the Buffs were effective the entire game. The Buffs surrendered their first points in the third quarter all season, but gave up only a third quarter touchdown, allowing the offense to put the game away in the second half.
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