Going into the Cincinnati game, the Buffs were in the thick of the Big 12 conference title hunt but wanted to accomplish the one elusive goal Deion Sanders set before the season started: to give superfan Miss Peggy Coppom a chance to attend a bowl game and see her beloved Buffs.
After the final whistle, it was mission accomplished.
Colorado thoroughly outlcassed Cincinnati in every way imaginable
Colorado's defense started the game with a three-and-out, highlighted by LB Leventa Bentley's viral hit. The Buffs offense would go on an 11-play, 64-yard drive, ending with a 3-yard touchdown by Travis Hunter from QB Shedeur Sanders. It was Hunter's fifth of the season.
Cincinnati would respond with a lengthy drive of their own (seven plays, 74 yards), ending with a touchdown by WR Tony Johnson. The Buffs marched in their next drive, 94 yards down the field before Sanders capped it off on the final second of the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run. Sanders was perfect in the opening twenty minutes, going 10/10 with two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing) on 116 yards passing.
Early in the second quarter, the Bearcats marched down the field, aided by a tough defensive pass interference penalty by DB Preston Hodge, who was thought to have an interception on the play. The visitors took advantage of the next play on a 13-yard touchdown run from RB Evan Pryor.
Colorado responded with another clinical drive. The 13-play, 64-yard drive lasted over six minutes before Alejandro Mata connected on a field goal from 28 yards for a 17-14 lead.
In the ensuing defensive series, the defense averted the Bearcats' fourth-and-one gamble near midfield, allowing the offense to expand their lead before the half. 30 seconds later, the Buffs did just that as Sanders threw a long dart throw to Hunter for his second touchdown with three seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Buffs increased their lead late in the third quarter on a touchdown run by RB Isiah Augustave (third of the season), but it came with a scare, as Sanders suffered a hip injury in the play before the score. Cincinnati would cut the deficit to two scores with a field goal early in the fourth quarter on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that lasted over six minutes.
Cincinnati climbed back to an one possession game with over four minutes to go on a 11-play, 81-yard drive, but failed on a two-point conversion. But in the next series, the Buffs offense marched down the field on a seven-play. 60 yard drive before Mata's game-sealing 47-yard field goal.
With the win, Colorado is 6-2 on the season, 4-1 in the conference. The Buffs will now head into their final bye week of the regular season before heading to Texas Tech on November 9 for a matchup with the Red Raiders.