Colorado football QB Shedeur Sanders receives highest of praise from Big 12 peer

Colorado football QB Shedeur Sanders got the highest compliment from Arizona's Noah Fifita
Colorado football QB Shedeur Sanders got the highest compliment from Arizona's Noah Fifita / Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
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Arizona's Noah Fifita called Colorado football QB Shedeur Sanders "generational" when asked about his former Pac-12/current Big 12 signal-calling counterpart at Big 12 media days from Las Vegas, Nevada.

"He's (Sanders) special," Fifita told The Coloradoan at Big 12 media days. "That's a generational talent for sure. Just watching him and the things that he does, he's very competitive. I know people don't like some of his tactics but as a competitor myself, I love it.

"Whatever it takes to win, everybody has their own style."

Fifita and Sanders had a generational battle in CU's final Pac-12 home game at Folsom Field in 2023. Shedeur completed 22 of his 35 pass attempts, scoring two touchdowns through the air and amassing 282 yards. Fifita was 21/35 and threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns himself. Arizona ultimately won 34-31 off a Tyler Loop game-winner.

The November 11 loss moved Colorado to 4-6 through Week 11 of the 2023 season. That was one of the many close losses Coach Prime hopes to turn into a win as the Buffs aim for a six-win season and a bowl game, per Deion's Black and Gold game promise to Peggy Coppom.

Arizona writer admits Colorado football QB Shedeur Sanders is the Big 12's best

Zona Zealots' Mason Duhon didn't want to admit it, but he did: Shedeur is the Big 12's best quarterback. Duhon ranked the "Grown QB" at the top of his power rankings of the once-again-revamped Big 12 in 2024.

"As overrated as the Colorado program is as a whole, it's largely because of one man: Shedeur Sanders," Duhon wrote. "The son of Hall-of-Fame NFL player turned college football head coach Deion Sanders was slinging the rock all over the yard last season, and he certainly is a first-round pick in terms of pure talent."

What's evident in media circles is that despite having the sport's most viral sizzle, Shedeur also provides the steak.

It'll never make anyone happy, but if it gets the Buffs six wins, it'll likely have Shedeur making top-10 NFL draft pick millions.