Colorado cracks AP Top 25 for first time in nearly 400 days

This is Buffalo’s first appearance in the AP Top 25. from the fourth match of the 2023 season when they went 3-0 on the road against top-ranked Oregon State last September.

In that game against the Ducks, Colorado suffered a demoralizing 42-6 loss that sent the Buffaloes completely out of the AP Top 25 the day after the contest.

Colorado is back in the main poll this season with a respectable 6-2 record after Saturday’s convincing win over Cincinnati. The win was Buffalo’s fifth in the last six games, with the school’s only loss in that span coming two weeks ago on Oct. 12, when No. 17 Kansas State defeated them 31-28.

In Colorado’s win over the Bearcats on Saturday, Buffalo quarterback Sheader Sanders completed 83.3 percent of his passes for 323 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Sanders also got involved, rushing for a four-yard touchdown on the game’s final play of the first quarter.

Travis Hunter from Colorado added to his Heisman Trophy resume on Saturday with nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns while lining up on the offensive side of the ball, as well as two tackles and four pass breakups on his defensive snaps.

After the victory, Buffalo head coach Deion Sanders delivered the message those who vote in college football’s two major polls (AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Poll).

“We don’t even want to be judged,” Dion said. “Don’t judge us, please. We don’t like it. We’d rather be in the back, in the dark, just relaxing in the cut. We are good, we are cool, we are straight. So don’t feel pressured. to rank us.”

Well, Deion got his wish in one of the polls as Colorado didn’t get enough votes to crack the top 25 in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll. Voters in the AP Top 25, however, did not consider Deion’s request in their latest filings.

Buffalo’s next opportunity to move up even higher this season comes on Nov. 9 when they take the road to take on unranked Texas Tech, 5-3.