Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team are bound for a bowl game this season.

On Saturday night, they clinched this with a home victory against Cincinnati, winning 34-23 and taking their record to 6-2 as they approach the final stretch of the regular season with four games left to play.

This win secures the required number of victories for bowl game eligibility during Sanders’ second season. Furthermore, it keeps them competitive for the Big 12 Conference title, thanks in large part to standout performances from quarterback Shedeur Sanders and dual-threat player Travis Hunter.

Shedeur Sanders completed 25 of 30 passes, totaling 323 yards and two touchdown throws, while Hunter made nine receptions, amassing 153 yards and scoring both touchdowns.

Cincinnati (5-3) narrowed Colorado’s lead to 31-23 with just under four minutes left after a robust 81-yard drive culminating in a 6-yard touchdown grab by tight end Joe Royer.

However, the Bearcats failed to convert a crucial two-point conversion attempt. Colorado responded by kicking a 47-yard field goal with just 1 minute and 39 seconds left, increasing their advantage to 34-23 in front of a raucous crowd of 53,202 at Folsom Field in Boulder.

This is only the second occasion since 2007 that Colorado has achieved at least six wins in a season. This turnaround is noteworthy considering just two years ago, the Buffaloes finished with a 1-11 record and subsequently dismissed their previous coach, leading to the hiring of “Coach Prime.” Qualifying for a bowl game would mark just their third since 2007, which includes the interrupted season of 2020 when the Buffaloes participated in the Alamo Bowl and concluded with a 4-2 record.

With six victories, Sanders earns a $150,000 bonus from Colorado and will receive an additional $100,000 for every extra regular-season win according to his contract. He is also entitled to at least $150,000 for being invited to a bowl game. His guaranteed salary this year stands at $5.7 million.

Currently, the team holds a 4-1 record in Big 12 games and will have a bye week next week before facing Texas Tech on November 9.

Did Shedeur Sanders get hurt?

During a third-quarter play where he rushed four yards for a first down at the Cincinnati 7-yard line, Shedeur Sanders, Deion Sanders’ son, appeared to sustain a hip or leg injury. He fell forward and got twisted up on the tackle, looking uneasy after Colorado scored on a 7-yard touchdown run immediately afterward, which widened their lead to 31-14.

Following treatment on the sidelines, he returned for the next drive but only threw one pass, opting to hand the ball off on running plays as the Buffaloes tried to manage the clock. The severity of the injury remained unclear, but it was not significant enough to take him out of the game right away.

After the injury, he passed five times, completing four. However, Colorado struggled a bit afterward, resulting in two punts and one field goal in their next three possessions.

Strong first half from Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders

The Buffaloes led 24-14 at halftime, thanks to two touchdown receptions by the dynamic Travis Hunter. His quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, successfully completed his first 15 passes and steered the offense to scores on all four first-half possessions—three touchdowns and one field goal, which included Sanders rushing for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Cincinnati attempted to keep pace and even managed to tie the game at 14-14 after a previous interception call was overturned due to pass interference by Colorado’s Preston Hodge. Hodge had intercepted a deep pass from Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby and returned it to midfield, but the play was negated when Hodge was penalized for interference after appearing to grab Cincinnati receiver Tony Johnson’s waist.

The ball was repositioned at Colorado’s 13-yard line, and the Bearcats scored a touchdown shortly after, leveling the game with 9:31 remaining in the half.

However, that was as good as it got for them in the first half. The Colorado defense prevented Cincinnati from advancing on their next possession, stopping them on a crucial fourth-and-1 situation at the Colorado 46-yard line. With just 33 seconds left in the half, Sanders took charge and capped off a drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Hunter on the right side of the field.

Hunter concluded the first half with seven receptions for 113 yards, marking a significant return after sitting out the second half of his last two games due to a shoulder injury.