After a strong 49-24 win over Utah on Saturday, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders shared another powerful message regarding the potential of his team.

With only two victories needed to secure a spot in the Big 12 Conference championship game, Sanders believes his team hasn’t yet reached its peak performance.

Remember his message when he took over in Boulder two years back?

“We comin.”

The Buffaloes (8-2) still adhere to that motto.

“We haven’t even hit our stride yet,” Sanders stated during the postgame news conference in Boulder. “We haven’t played our best game yet. That in itself is a little frightening. When I said, `We comin,’ we’re still on our way. We never stopped moving forward. We’re coming, and we’re far from where we need to be.”

‘The Buffs are back’

If they secure victories in their last two regular-season games, against Kansas next week and Oklahoma State at home on Nov. 29, they could qualify for the Big 12 championship game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 7. Winning that match could catapult them into the new 12-team College Football Playoff, potentially granting them a first-round bye as one of the top four ranked conference champions.

However, there are still challenges to address, along with aspirations to win a Heisman Trophy. Sanders spoke on these topics after rejuvenating Colorado, which had a disappointing 1-11 record in the 2021 season.

“It’s quite special,” remarked running back Charlie Offerdahl afterward. “That 1-11 season was tough. All I can say is the Buffs are back.”

Deion Sanders comments on Travis Hunter’s Heisman race

Colorado’s cornerback-receiver, Travis Hunter, is in contention for the Heisman Trophy and showcased his skills with a rushing touchdown, an interception, three tackles, and five catches for 55 yards, playing nearly the entire game. However, he did allow his first touchdown pass of the season—a 40-yard completion just out of reach in the third quarter.

Following the game, Sanders was asked what he would say to undecided Heisman voters. He expressed concern that Hunter might be overlooked due to some voters’ dislike for him as a coach.

“The Heisman should go to the best college football player,” Sanders stated. “That’s been clear since what? Week 2? So we’re not begging for recognition. We have an incredible display of cameras here, and we’re on national television each week. If they can’t see us, that’s an issue. Don’t let personal animosities towards me affect our kids’ achievements. Stop that. Please, give the kids what they rightfully deserve. I’ve had my moment. You had 14 years to dislike me. It’s time to move on.”

Hunter made history by becoming the first player in the NFL or major college football to record 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown, and an interception in a single game within the past 24 years, following Champ Bailey’s similar feat in the NFL on Dec. 24, 2000, according to CU.

Why was Deion Sanders not entirely satisfied?

Despite the victory, the Buffs experienced three turnovers—two fumbles and an interception on the game’s opening play. Two of these turnovers were committed by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, leading to field goals for Utah (4-6).

Offensively, Colorado only converted three out of 11 third-down attempts, following a previous performance of just two out of 13 at Texas Tech last week.

“These mistakes can’t continue,” Shedeur Sanders acknowledged. “I need to talk to the entire offensive group and apologize for my early mistakes, as I can’t let the team be put in that position. I’m grateful for our defense. I may need to take them out for dinner this week for bailing me and the team out.”

Shedeur finished the game completing 30 of 41 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns in front of another sell-out crowd at Folsom Field (54,646). Colorado led 21-9 at halftime and maintained control largely thanks to their defense, which intercepted three passes, recovered a fumble, and recorded nine tackles for loss, along with four sacks. Colorado’s defense held Utah to just 31 rushing yards, the lowest for the Utes since 2011, as reported by CU.

The Heisman moment

Two notable plays stood out for different reasons. One was a 4-yard touchdown run from Offerdahl, a former walk-on who was rewarded with a scholarship by Deion Sanders before this season. Sanders has consistently praised Offerdahl’s dedication in practice, ensuring he got the chance to score his first career touchdown for the Buffaloes with 4:32 remaining in the game.

The second significant play occurred later in the fourth quarter when the Buffaloes recovered a fumble at the Utah 19-yard line. On first down at the 5-yard line, Shedeur handed off to Offerdahl, who then executed a reverse pass to Hunter.

“That play is pretty exciting,” Offerdahl remarked. “We call it Heisman.”

Hunter maneuvered and scored on the play, securing a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

“`

However, things didn’t go as planned. After the game, Shedeur explained that Hunter was meant to pass the ball back to him, but due to Shedeur tripping, Hunter had to adapt.

“I was just trying to get open, and I realized how challenging it is to be a receiver,” Shedeur Sanders said.

On Saturday, Shedeur connected with seven different receivers, including freshman Drelon Miller, who made six catches totaling 108 yards and scored a touchdown.

“We believe we have the top receiving group in the nation,” said Deion Sanders.

Next Saturday, they will showcase their skills in Kansas for another game broadcasted live on Fox. Currently ranked No. 17 in the playoff standings, the Buffs are enjoying their best start since 2016, a season that ended with a bowl game appearance and a 10-4 record.

(This story was updated with additional information.)