Colorado clinches bowl berth in Year 2 under Deion Sanders - ESPN

Colorado is going bowling in Year 2 under Deion Sanders.

The Buffaloes secured their sixth win and bowl eligibility late Saturday night, earning a 34-23 home victory over Cincinnati that also sets them up to be a Big 12 contender next month.

Shedeur Sanders broke a school record by completing his first 15 passes of the game, threw for 323 yards and scored three total touchdowns to lead the Buffaloes. The victory ensured the star quarterback's second season in Boulder will end with the program's first bowl game since 2020.

«It's cute, it really is. Because we really want that, but that's not all we're after,» Deion Sanders said. «That's one of the hurdles that we're jumping over and going over.

»That's a tremendous hurdle that we're happy, we're excited, but that's not the end goal for us. That's the beginning, but we are thankful and appreciative that the hard work is going noticed."

Shedeur Sanders said he dealt with the flu during the week and was only able to practice once before facing the Bearcats. He completed 25 of 30 passes on the night and connected with two-way star Travis Hunter nine times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Afterward, his father questioned why he's «not even mentioned» in the Heisman Trophy race.

«I don't care, I really don't. It's just strange,» Sanders said. «It's just funny to me. I just think it's just ignorant, but it's funny to us because Shedeur could care less. Shedeur wants to be drafted in a wonderful city. He wants to win out. That's what he thinks about. He ain't thinking about no darn Heisman, man.

»Now, Travis is the best college football player in the country. We all know that. Why are we even deliberating over that? What are we doing? Like, when does that change? So what's the