Colorado Buffaloes vs. NDSU (Photo via ESPN)
For the second straight season, the Colorado Buffaloes were involved in a close game at the beginning of their season that everybody thought they would have zero trouble with.
Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes certainly didn’t want their home opener against North Dakota State to be that close, but since your team gets a ton of attention, everybody on your schedule is playing you with a chip on their shoulder.
The Colorado Buffaloes held off North Dakota State thanks to monster performances from Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to win their first game of the season, 31-26.
However, it did not come without controversy.
The game had several questionable calls, and the Buffs certainly benefited from them.
The Colorado Buffaloes Benefit From Questionable Pass Interference Call Late In Fourth Quarter
During the Colorado Buffaloes’ final drive of the game, North Dakota State needed a crucial stop on third down when quarterback Shedeur Sanders underthrew a pass intended for LaJohntay Webster.
However, a North Dakota defender never got his head around and was flagged for pass interference on the play, as the defender ran into Webster.
North Dakota pass interference pic.twitter.com/S1P6kCavLu
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) August 30, 2024
Under thrown balls getting called pass interference is the dumbest football rule pic.twitter.com/2dzJW9932B
— John (@iam_johnw) August 30, 2024
Had the play ended in an incomplete pass, NDSU would have had the ball back with just under two minutes to play.
Unfortunately for them, the Buffaloes got a first down, and by the time their possession was over, there were 31 seconds left in the game.
Fans were not happy and called and stated that the game was rigged for the Colorado Buffaloes to win:
Colorado won because of a fake PI, the ref running 4 seconds off the clock, and not reviewing a targeting call at the end…
against an FCS team by 5….
Garbage
— Digital DAM 🦫 (@TheDigitalDam) August 30, 2024
Colorado game so rigged 😂
— #11 NBA MizzouBoy (@mizzousp0rts) August 30, 2024
Colorado needs a rigged game to beat ndsu I’m crying
— Evan (@thunderhawk3540) August 30, 2024
#Rigged pic.twitter.com/fsZyGElC63
— Anytime23 (@Anytime23CCS) August 30, 2024
They will get exposed eventually. You can only hide for so long when you’re fraudulent.
— H.E. (@HEPennypacker51) August 30, 2024
The Colorado bail out is complete. Absolute fucking ref show this second half. Receiver didn’t jump back into the ball. That’s not PI
— Sam Goldsmith (@sgoldsmith94) August 30, 2024
I’m sorry but the PI on that Colorado final play is bullshit….rewards the QB for under throwing the ball
— Corny McCornington (@corny_McCorny) August 30, 2024
Colorado needed to get away with multiple targetings, a bogus PI call, AND the refs running time off the clock to beat NDSU. Truly awful 😭
— Garrett (@TheGarrative9) August 30, 2024
Refs working OT to make sure Colorado wins. Thats fucking PI. Fuck the NCAA refs
— Midwest Cappers (@Midwest_Cappers) August 30, 2024
Call me a Colorado Hater but refs were the real 12th man:
– Travis Hunter Pushes off constantly.
– under thrown ball what is a defender supposed to do to not get a PI call?
– missed false start on 3rd down.
– targeting on SDS last drive was not called
– Rolled Clock…
— Austin Perkins (@saustinperkins) August 30, 2024
NDSU just got robbed by these refs in boulder. Was not a PI/ screwing them out of plenty of seconds on that final drive. Disgraceful that the Colorado media hype controlled this game. #colorado #collegefootball
— Cowboy Casillas (@greg_casillas27) August 30, 2024
In the end, Sanders finished with 445 yards and four touchdowns, while Hunter caught three touchdowns and had 132 receiving yards, per ESPN.com.
Jimmy Horn also had seven catches for 198 yards and a touchdown.
