Travis Hunter and three other receivers were injured in the Buffs' loss to Kansas State - BuffZone

Despite all the experience Shedeur Sanders has had playing football over the years, he had never seen what happened Saturday night.

“I never thought four receivers would get injured in one game,” the Colorado quarterback said. “It’s just ridiculous, but things happen. Life happens, so we just have to go ahead and do what we have to do next week.”

Colorado nearly pulled off an upset of 18th-ranked Kansas State at Folsom Field on Saturday before falling 31-28. Despite missing the country's best player – Travis Hunter – and three other receivers due to injuries, they were remarkably en route to a victory.

Hunter, a star cornerback and receiver who is a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, suffered an undisclosed injury early in the second quarter. He took a big hit after a 14-yard catch and appeared to be resting his shoulder. He stayed in the game for a few more games before departing.

Hunter was on the sideline in uniform throughout the second half, but head coach Deion Sanders said they considered bringing him back into the game.

“No, not at all,” he said. “He was just there to support his team and he did a good job of that.”

Two plays before Hunter's injury, Jimmy Horn Jr. took a hit after a 12-yard catch, went to the sideline and never returned to the game. He also stood on the sidelines in uniform in the second half.

With Horn and Hunter out, sophomore Omarion Miller had a big night with eight catches for 145 yards. But on the third play of the fourth quarter, he caught a 41-yard pass from Shedeur and suffered a leg injury. He was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.

Coach Prime said he had no injury news from any of the receivers, but said, “I saw Omarion in a boot, in a cast so to speak.” I thank God that we have everything on the second floor here in this wonderful building (the Champions Center). have what we need. But I haven't gotten an update on these particular young men. Hopefully they can do it again, but we won't rush them. Their safety and their health are much more important in this game.”

CU's receiving corps was further decimated when Terrell Timmons limped off the field late in the fourth quarter after catching a pass.

The Buffs are loaded with talent at receiver, but their depth will be tested if any of the four – particularly Horn and Hunter – are out for an extended period of time.

“Honestly, it’s really the next player,” said Shedeur, who fired passes to nine different players on Saturday. “And the guys that came in were ready and able to play. Drelon Miller stepped forward and did what he was supposed to do. Jordan Onovughe, he got in there and did what he was supposed to do. So overall it is a machine. We have to keep going no matter what happens.”

Colorado running back Dallan Hayden (center) is stopped after a short catch by Kansas State defensive tackle Damian Ilalio (left) and linebacker Austin Moore in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Boulder . Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Bad grade

CU finished Saturday's game with minus-29 rushing yards, setting a program record for lowest total in a game. The previous low was minus 27 yards against Florida State on September 15, 2007.

“We didn’t make it,” Coach Prime said. “I mean, the play calls are there; we didn't execute it. We missed a block here, we missed this one there, we missed that one there. We just couldn’t do it.”

Unlike in the NFL, sack yards are subtracted from rushing totals, and Shedeur lost 74 yards on the six sacks he took against the Wildcats.

Shilo returns

Buffs safety Shilo Sanders returned to the field after missing three games with a broken forearm. However, the senior had a tough evening. He finished the game with seven tackles but missed several others and Coach Prime didn't mince his words when asked about his son's performance.

“I thought he played terribly. I thought he was rusty,” Coach Prime said. “I thought he had no grip. I thought he wouldn't collapse. He's trying to make the play, but in the open field, one-on-one tackling with that type of back (K-State's DJ Giddens), that's not an easy task, but he'll do better. I know what’s inside him.”

Remarkable

Saturday's attendance was 53,972, the seventh largest crowd in Folsom Field history. It has been the second largest attendance in the last 19 seasons (since 2006), trailing only the 54,032 spectators who showed up to last year's game against USC. … At some point Saturday, Shedeur completed 16 consecutive passes, setting a CU record. The streak ended with a dropped pass, and then he completed four more passes in a row. … Shedeur became the ninth player in CU history to surpass the 5,000-yard mark in a career, including bowls. He has 5,248. … Defensive end BJ Green had his first two QB sacks as a buff. Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig and Taje McCoy also added sacks. … Entering the weekend, CU was one of just six teams nationally that had not yet allowed a 100-yard rusher or receiver. Entering the game, they were one of only two (along with Northern Illinois). However, K-State's DJ Giddens (182 rushing yards) and Jayce Brown (121 receiving yards) ended that streak for CU.

Originally published: October 12, 2024 at 10:17 p.m

Travis Hunter and three other receivers were injured in the Buffs' loss to Kansas State – BuffZone

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