Sports

Colorado responds to week of ‘disrespect’ with Travis Hunter-led rout of Colorado State

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2024

Colorado responds to week of ‘disrespect’ with Travis Hunter-led rout of Colorado State

Colorado rebounded from taking a rivalry beatdown by delivering one. Playing at Colorado State for the first time since 1996, the Buffaloes rolled over the Rams 28-9 on Saturday.

The rematch of last year’s heated double-overtime thriller in Boulder lacked the scoring and dramatics, but did showcase an improved Colorado team from the Buffaloes’ ugly showing a week ago, when Colorado trailed 28-0 at halftime of a 28-10 loss at Nebraska.

Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and receiver Tory Horton added another jolt to the rivalry this week with some pregame trash talk. Horton argued that the Rams should have “murdered” Colorado last season, and Fowler-Nicolosi said he wanted to “see how far Instagram followers gets them.” Fowler-Nicolosi and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to exchange words after the game. Sanders said that before the game a Colorado State player ran into and elbowed Colorado receivers coach Jason Phillips.

“The disrespect was uncalled for during the week,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “We knew coming into the game it would be a bit personal. … I just pray that our kids would never act in that matter cause y’all would have a field day with it.”

On Saturday, Colorado’s play spoke loudest as the Buffaloes improved to 2-1 and earned their seventh consecutive win in the in-state rivalry, keeping the Centennial Cup in Boulder.

“Them Instagram followers got us far today, ya heard?” Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter said in a live video posted to social media.

They also spoiled the first sellout for Colorado State in Canvas Stadium, which opened in 2017.

“Oh! This was the first time they sold out here? Why was that? You know darn well why that was,” Sanders said.

Colorado led 14-3 at halftime after trailing 3-0 after the first quarter, then scored early in the third quarter to extend the lead to 18 and coasted from there. Last week’s lopsided loss in Lincoln prompted plenty of questions about how the transfer-heavy Buffaloes roster would respond. Sanders couldn’t have been more pleased with what he saw.

“I’m just so proud,” he said.

Hunter strengthens his Heisman case

Fowler-Nicolosi taunted Hunter with a “too small” gesture after a two-yard scramble in the first half, but Hunter picked off the quarterback in the second half, returning his first interception of the season 38 yards. Hunter missed most of last year’s comeback victory after suffering a lacerated liver on a late hit from Rams safety Henry Blackburn.

“How stupid is that?” Sanders said. “This is Travis Hunter. Dude, this is Travis Hunter. This is Travis Hunter. Who does that? I don’t allow my kids to do that.”

Hunter caught 13 passes, tying his career high, for 100 yards and two scores, his fourth consecutive game with triple-digit receiving yards. He also added a pass breakup and five tackles on defense.

“Travis is phenomenal,” Sanders said. “Week in and week out.”

Colorado’s offensive line shuffling pays off

Deion and Shedeur Sanders were critical of the offensive line’s play a week ago against Nebraska’s defensive front, both in protecting Colorado’s quarterback and in struggling to establish a running game.

Deion Sanders warned that a shakeup could be coming, and it was. The Buffaloes benched UTEP transfer Justin Mayers and moved Florida International transfer Phillip Houston to starting right tackle. They also moved Tyler Brown from right tackle to left guard. Five-star freshman Jordan Seaton remained at left tackle, and Hank Zilinskas (center) and Khalil Benson (right guard) stayed in their spots.

The result? Sanders had more time and better protection than he’s had all season, albeit against a Colorado State defense that ranked 85th nationally in tackles for loss and 118th in sacks with just one through two games this season. Sanders was sacked just one time for a loss of six yards.

All five offensive linemen came to the postgame press conference with Shedeur Sanders and Hunter.

“I’m so dern proud of these men I don’t know what to do,” Deion Sanders said during an in-game interview on CBS. “I want to line ’em up and kiss all of ’em. I love ’em to life.”

For the second time under Sanders, the Buffaloes had a rusher surpass 60 yards in a single game, despite missing starting running back Dallan Hayden. Colorado ran for 112 yards on 17 carries. Freshman Micah Welch, one of Colorado’s 11 high school signees in the Class of 2024, carried the ball nine times for 65 yards.

“It was very personal. It meant everything for us to go prove the world wrong,” Brown said.

(Photo: Andrew Wevers / Getty Images)

Related Topics:College Football Colorado Buffaloes Featured

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Sports

Loyola wins Southern Section Division 1 lacrosse championship

Published

12 minutes ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

Loyola wins Southern Section Division 1 lacrosse championship

There’s no denying that Loyola’s lacrosse program is best in Southern California and could be that way for years to come with the number of elite young players participating.

On Saturday night, the Cubs (16-3) won their latest Southern Section Division 1 championship with a 14-6 win over Santa Margarita. The Cubs have won three title since the sport was adopted as a championship event in the Southern Section. Defense has been Loyola’s strength all season.

Senior defenders Chase Hellie and Everett Rolph and junior goalkeeper William Russo led one of the best defenses in program history under coach Jimmy Borell.

Senior Cash Ginsberg finished with five goals and junior North Carolina commit Tripp King finished with two goals.

In girls Division 1, Mira Costa upset top-seeded Santa Margarita 12-6.

Sports

Napoleon Solo wins 151st Preakness Stakes

Published

12 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

Napoleon Solo wins 151st Preakness Stakes

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Napoleon Solo took home the 2026 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, the 151st running of the race.

The favorite in Taj Mahal, the 1 horse, was in the lead from the start until the final turn until Napoleon Solo made his move on the outside and took the lead at the top of the stretch. As Taj Mahal fell off, Iron Honor, the 9 horse, snuck up, but the effort ultimately was not enough.

Napoleon Solo opened at 8-1 and closed at 7-1. Iron Honor, at 8-1, finished second, with Chip Honcho fishing third after closing at 11-1. Ocelli, one of just three horses to run both the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago and Saturday’s Preakness, finished fourth at 8-1.

A Preakness branded starting gate is seen on track prior to the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, 2026 in Laurel, Maryland. For the first and only time, Laurel Park is hosting the Preakness Stakes which is the second race of the Triple Crown jewel due to the traditional home of the race of the Pimlico Race Course undergoing complete renovations. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

A $1 exacta paid out $53.60, while a $1 trifecta brought in $597.10. But someone out there is very lucky, as a $1 superhighfive – picking the top-five finishers in order – paid out $12,015.70.

Even moreso, a 20-cent Pick 6 – picking the winners of the six consecutive races, with the final being the Preakness, paid out $33,842.34.

The race was run without the Kentucky Derby winner for the second year in a row. After Sovereignty did not run the Preakness last year – and wound up winning the Belmont Stakes – the training team of Golden Tempo opted to skip the Maryland race.

From 1960 to 2018, only three Derby winners did not run in the Preakness. Three Derby winners have skipped the Preakness in the last five years, and for the sixth time in eight years, for various reasons, the Triple Crown had already been impossible to accomplish by the time the Preakness even rolled around.

“I understand that fans of the sport or fans of the Triple Crown are disappointed, but the horse is not a machine,” Golden Tempo’s trainer, Cherie DeVaux, told Fox News Digital earlier this week.

Paco Lopez, right, atop Napoleon Solo, edges out Iron Honor, ridden by Flavien Prat, to win the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes horse race, Friday, May 15, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

CHERIE DEVAUX REFLECTS ON MAKING KENTUCKY DERBY HISTORY AS FIRST FEMALE TRAINER TO WIN THE RACE

Only three horses from two weeks ago – Ocelli, Robusta, and Incredibolt, were back at the Preakness. Corona de Oro, the 11 horse on Saturday, was scratched well ahead of the Derby, and Great White, who reared up and fell on his back after becoming startled shortly before entering the Derby gate, took the 13 post on Saturday.

The Preakness went off roughly 24 hours after a horse died following the completion of his very first race.

Hit Zero, trained by Brittany Russell, came into the race as the favorite. However, he finished last in the race, which was won by another one of Russell’s horses, Bold Fact — and upon crossing the finish line, Hit Zero reportedly began coughing, dropped to his knees, then put his head down and died.

The Preakness took place at Laurel Park as Pimlico undergoes renovations. It was the first time ever that Pimlico did not host the race, moving roughly 20 miles south.

Paco Lopez, atop Napoleon Solo, wins the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes horse race, Friday, May 15, 2026, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The Belmont Stakes, the final Triple Crown race, will take place on June 6. The race will return to Saratoga for a third year in a row as Belmont Park continues to be renovated.

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