BOULDER, Colo. — In a dramatic finish, LaJohntay Wester caught a 43-yard Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders as time expired in regulation, and Travis Hunter sealed the game in overtime by forcing a fumble at the 1-yard line, helping Colorado secure a thrilling 38-31 comeback victory over Baylor on a rainy Saturday night.
Micah Welch's short touchdown run in overtime gave the Buffaloes their first lead since the opening quarter. Hunter, the Buffaloes' star on both offense and defense, forced a fumble from Baylor running back Dominic Richardson at the goal line, with the ball rolling out of the end zone. Fans stormed the field and brought down a goalpost before the officials officially confirmed the play.
In the final play of regulation, Shedeur Sanders rolled to his left and launched a perfectly placed pass to Wester, who broke free from his defender and secured the catch as he hit the ground. After a review, the officials confirmed the catch, and Alejandro Mata added the extra point, sending the game into overtime.
“Great, great, great, great, great win,” said Colorado coach Deion Sanders. “These young men were resilient. They never gave up, never surrendered.”
The last-second throw by Sanders and the Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) happened just three days before the 30th anniversary of the famous "Miracle at Michigan," when Kordell Stewart's 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook sealed a win over the Wolverines. Coincidentally, the 1994 play was being replayed on the broadcast moments before Sanders connected with Wester.
When asked where this game ranked, Deion Sanders kept it simple: “I don’t rank games. I just love the Ws. By any means necessary. I love 'em.”
Baylor delivered plenty of big moments, including Jamaal Bell’s untouched 100-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, followed shortly by Sawyer Robertson's 45-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1, giving Baylor a 14-point lead.
After Colorado tied the game in the third quarter, Hal Presley made a stunning one-handed, 24-yard touchdown catch with 5:43 left, putting Baylor (2-2, 0-1) back in front. The Bears had a chance to seal the win, but Isaiah Hankins' 45-yard field goal attempt missed wide right.
That set the stage for Sanders and the Buffaloes to rally.
“A heart-wrenching loss,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “I haven’t really experienced something like that, especially down to the last play of overtime... It’s tough to swallow. The team is gutted right now, frustrated. We’re going to be hurting all the way back to Waco.”
Sanders, constantly under pressure, threw for 341 yards despite being sacked eight times. Travis Hunter was a standout with seven catches for 130 yards while also recording three tackles on defense. His performance on both sides of the ball has fueled his Heisman campaign, and this game only strengthens his case.
Omarion Miller made the most of his first catch of the season, reeling in a deep pass from Sanders, breaking away from a tackle by Corey Gordon Jr., and keeping his knee off the ground. His 58-yard touchdown, upheld after review, pulled Colorado within 24-17 by halftime.
The Buffaloes’ return to Big 12 Conference play was a success, having left the conference after the 2010 season to join the Pac-12, only to return this year.
Rain or Shine:
Earlier in the week, Sanders had downplayed concerns about the possibility of rain during the game and whether his team would practice with wet-ball drills. The rain eventually came.
Key Takeaways:
Baylor: A late-game defensive misstep. Just before the Hail Mary touchdown, Will Sheppard nearly broke free for a catch that could have tied the game.
Colorado: Special teams were a major weakness. Baylor’s Jamaal Bell had a 100-yard kickoff return, and the Bears also notched a 54-yard punt return. “Special teams were horrible,” Sanders admitted.
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