Colorado Buffaloes Overcome North Dakota State Bison in Season Opener

In the season opener at Folsom Field, the Colorado Buffaloes emerged victorious against the North Dakota State Bison, clinching a narrow win with a scoreline of 31-26. This early triumph sets the Buffaloes on a positive trajectory with a record of 1-0, while pushing the Bison to an initial setback at 0-1. Throughout the contest, Colorado demonstrated both offensive prowess and defensive solidity that were pivotal in their success.

The Buffaloes' offense was spearheaded by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who delivered an outstanding performance by throwing for 445 yards with an accuracy rate of 76 percent. Sanders' day included four touchdown passes, highlighted by a spectacular 69-yard throw that culminated in one of those scores. The ground game saw contributions from Charlie Offerdahl and Dallan Hayden, who collectively amassed 59 rushing yards.

Defensively, LaVonta Bentley and Chidozie Nwankwo stood out for their efforts. Bentley tallied five tackles and secured one sack resulting in a five-yard loss for North Dakota State Bison while also registering a quarterback hit. Nwankwo contributed with two tackles and notched one sack that set back the Bison six yards.

The special teams unit also played a crucial role in this victory. Alejandro Mata flawlessly executed all his extra-point kicks and added to Colorado's tally with a field goal from 27 yards out.

Receivers Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr., were instrumental in advancing Colorado's offensive game plan. Hunter reeled in seven passes for an impressive total of 132 yards while crossing into the end zone three times. Horn Jr., closely followed suit with seven receptions amounting to 198 receiving yards including one touchdown reception that covered an astonishing distance of 69 yards.

This collective team effort underscored Colorado Buffaloes' win over North Dakota State Bison amidst nearly fifty thousand spectators gathered at Boulder's Folsom Field.

Looking forward, the Colorado Buffaloes are set to face off against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on September 7th at 7:30 PM EDT. The upcoming game promises another exciting chapter for fans who can tune into NBC to catch all live action.