Colorado gained bowl eligibility with a sixth win, defeating Cincinnati with a balanced effort from both the offense and defense. The Buff offense scored on all four offensive possessions in the first half to take a 24-14 lead into the break, with the defense making it hold up. A 47-yard field goal by CU kicker Alejandro Mata with 1:39 to play gave the Buffs their final two-score cushion, raising CU’s record to 6-2, 4-1 in Big 12 play.

Shedeur Sanders completed 25-of-30 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns, also scoring on a four-yard run. Travis Hunter collected both touchdown passes, with Hunter catching nine passes for a season-high 153 yards. Isaiah Augustave led the CU rushing attack with 91 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, with the Buffs going over 100 yards rushing (123) for the second game in a row.

“We’re excited with some of the things that we’re doing,” Coach Prime said. “We really are. But some of the things are still a work in progress. We’re happy about some things. We’re happy about some of the players and what they’re doing. I got to see the film to see what everyone truly did and clean up some of the mistakes we made because we shouldn’t have let that game get that close. But we got the ‘W. ‘That’s what counts.”