BOULDER, Colo. – Fans flooded the field before the final whistle even blew.

The atmosphere was intense and electrifying. Now, the Colorado Buffaloes are back in contention after a stunning array of decisive plays that led to a 38-31 overtime victory at home against Baylor.

Time to celebrate in the locker room under head coach Deion Sanders.

“It was an unforgettable celebration,” said Colorado receiver LaJohntay Wester about the postgame festivities. “I loved it, man… There’s truly nothing like this, especially after a victory.”

The drama was equally remarkable at the end of the game. Trailing by 14 points earlier, the Buffs fought back with a dramatic Hail Mary as time expired in regulation, followed by a crucial fumble recovery in overtime led by two-way standout Travis Hunter.

“What a phenomenal win,” Deion Sanders declared afterward.

This thrilling outcome almost didn’t take place. Here’s a recap of how the game unfolded, showcasing Colorado’s narrow escape in front of a sold-out homecoming crowd of 52,794 at Folsom Field. The Buffs now have a 3-1 start for the second consecutive year under Sanders, with Hunter continuing to shine on the field.

Colorado’s final drive in regulation

Baylor (2-2) nearly sealed the game in the fourth quarter with a 45-yard field goal attempt with just 2:16 on the clock. A successful kick would have likely meant defeat for the Buffs. However, the attempt missed wide right, giving Colorado the chance to regain possession while trailing 31-24.

What followed was a sequence of narrow escapes, close calls, and moments of “Perfect Timing,” which is also the title of a song by Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s youngest son.

“They fought till the end,” Deion Sanders praised. “They never gave in.”

At a crucial moment, Shedeur Sanders faced a fourth down and 1 at Baylor’s 46-yard line—making this play a potential game-ender for the Buffs if he failed to convert. Instead, he secured a first down with a 3-yard run, keeping Colorado’s hopes alive.

Just moments later, Sanders attempted a long second-down pass to receiver Will Sheppard, a transfer from Vanderbilt, who unfortunately dropped what could have been a game-winning touchdown, stopping the clock with only two seconds to go.

“We should have had that one,” Deion Sanders noted. “But thankfully we caught the critical one.”

The Hail Mary, nearly 30 years since the famous one

After Sheppard’s drop, there was time for one final play—a 43-yard Hail Mary, almost 30 years to the day of Colorado’s legendary 64-yard Hail Mary victory over Michigan on September 24, 1994.

“I just trusted in God,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I threw it up there and God certainly answered.”

Shedeur rolled to his left and launched the ball toward the end zone’s left corner, where Wester leaped to catch it in the pouring rain for a miraculous 43-yard touchdown as the clock struck zero. It helped that Baylor’s defense was focused on Hunter, which allowed Wester to make the catch more easily.

“It was a true Hail Mary,” Wester, a Florida Atlantic transfer, said. “I was one-on-one. I just ran down there. I saw Shedeur rolling out and then the ball coming my way. As a receiver, my job is to help my quarterback, whether it’s a great throw or not, and I just made a play.”

With the successful extra point, the game was tied at 31, heading into overtime.

Overtime and Hunter’s game-winning fumble

Colorado got the ball first in overtime and advanced 25 yards over seven plays, featuring eight yards rushing and 12 yards passing from Shedeur Sanders. “I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” he said.

Freshman running back Micah Welch capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, putting the Buffs ahead 38-31.

Baylor still had a chance to respond and advanced to the Colorado 2-yard line after four plays, including a 13-yard scramble by quarterback Sawyer Robertson that would have been a touchdown without an impressive open-field tackle by Buffs safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig.

On the following play, the ball was handed off to running back Dominic Richardson, who appeared to have a clear route to the end zone—except for one crucial player.

Travis Hunter.

Hunter stood firm at the goal line, forcing Richardson to attempt a leap over him. The ball subsequently popped loose and fell into the end zone.

“I saw that coming,” Hunter reflected. “They don’t realize I can tackle, so I had to show them.”

Hunter concluded with seven receptions for 130 yards on offense, along with three tackles and that critical forced fumble on defense.

The wild postgame celebration

Once the fumble occurred, it seemed the game was sealed. Buffs win.

Or so it seemed.

Colorado fans erupted in exuberance, storming the field through the rain, but officials still needed to review the play to confirm the fumble. It wasn’t over yet, prompting officials to ask the fans to step back.

“I apologize to Baylor for how we rushed the field,” Deion Sanders stated.

Sanders noted that he didn’t even have the chance to shake hands with Baylor head coach Dave Aranda afterward.

“I didn’t like how it unfolded at the end, but I loved the outcome,” Deion Sanders said. “We have an amazing fan base.”

Once the replay confirmed the fumble, the homecoming celebration erupted into full swing while the Bears left puzzled about what had just transpired. Aranda described it as a “devastating loss” for his team, which he said was “emotionally drained.”

Travis Hunter, on his part, celebrated by crawling on his hands and knees through the end zone—a humorous nod to a popular online trend.

“I had to do it,” Hunter stated.

The Buffs Managed to Get Lucky

The team allowed two significant touchdown plays in the second quarter, quieting a crowd that had come ready to cheer. The first was a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Baylor’s Jamaal Bell, who raced down the right sideline. The second was a 45-yard fourth-down sprint from Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson that helped the Bears take a 24-10 lead with 4:19 remaining before the half.

The Buffs also faced eight quarterback sacks, a stark contrast to their performance just a week prior when they only allowed one in a 28-9 victory against Colorado State.

Shedeur Sanders referred to the victory as “a relief.” He completed 25 of 41 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 58-yard throw to sophomore receiver Omarion Miller in the second quarter that narrowed Baylor’s lead to 24-17 with just 50 seconds before halftime. Miller almost got tackled near the 35-yard line but powered through to score. However, Shedeur was critical of himself, admitting he missed key plays.

“You’ve got to know that I can’t perform like that again,” Shedeur remarked.

The big question now is whether the Buffaloes can maintain their winning streak, unlike last year when they dropped seven of their last eight games after starting 3-1. Had they lost against Baylor, they would have faced a tough challenge to achieve the six wins needed for a postseason bowl invitation.

Now, they enter their next game with momentum, as they prepare for a trip to Central Florida (3-0) this Saturday, followed by a weekend off on Oct. 5.

“I wasn’t pleased with how things unfolded, but I loved the outcome,” Deion Sanders commented. “I truly believe we are better than what we’re sometimes showing you.”

Stay updated with reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer.