Final Huddle: Colorado Deals Road Loss to Cincinnati Football

The Bearcats dropped a tough road bout to Colorado 34-24 on Saturday night, moving to 5-3 on the season and likely ending hopes of a Big 12 title run.

CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders (25-30 passing for 323 yards and 2 TDs) lit up the Bearcats secondary like BBQ chicken and put too much pressure on Cincinnati's offense to keep up. Deion Sanders's squad dropped 446 yards on UC.

The Bearcats are now 0-2 all-time against the Buffaloes and enter the bye week amidst the middle of the Big 12 with one win needed for Bowl eligibility. Cincinnati's offense couldn't get enough chances to keep pace with the Big 12's top unit, losing the time of possession battle for the second time this season (Towson won TOP in Week 1). 

Sanders Shines

Tyson Veidt's defense got shredded from the start in this game, with Sanders opening the contest on a perfect passing streak from the field through most of the first half. UC allowed just 10 points in the second half, but the damage was too much.

Tackling was a massive problem in this night affair starting with Travis Hunter (9 catches, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 2 tackles). He showed why he'll join Sanders as a top-five NFL Draft pick next spring. Colorado had 180 yards after the catch on Saturday. Pair that with just SACKS on Sanders, and it was a long night for the second and third level of this defense. 

Form tackling didn't show up often as Hunter & Co. flashed great tackle-breaking speed and a hunger to feed off a rabid Boulder, CO, crowd. 

It's no secret Colorado drives its scoring through the air, but the rushing attack got enough steady push to keep Cincinnati on track for its worst defense performance of the season. Something about the bright lights is bringing out the worst in that unit, facilitating 34-plus point opposing scorelines in both primetime games.

The Bearcats corners struggled to tackle all night long and it spiraled into rough coverage mistakes as well in the most efficient passing game they've allowed in 2024. 

Late First Half Heartbreak 

Cincinnati saw the game turn in a huge few-drive sequence late in the opening half. Colorado got stopped inside the UC 15 and held to a field goal making it 17-14, leaving the door open to score with about two minutes left.

Enter a short drive to midfield and a running clock for UC on 4th & 1 that UC chose to let go with three timeouts and ensuingly get stuffed roughly 20 seconds later. It was a back-breaking mistake.

Sanders led a TD drive to close the half via Travis Hunter's 34-yard TD grab, and Cincinnati entered the locker room with all its timeouts. Margins are super thin in these types of atmospheres and letting the Buffs win the middle eight minutes was a major difference.

Cincinnati also refused to show urgency down 17 to start the fourth quarter and throughout the final frame. They never realistically had a chance to come back while sticking to the run (32 carries to 30 passes)

The Bearcats have made great strides this season, but mistakes/sequences like that can't happen in a Big 12 title chase.

Bye Week Build

Cincinnati has to recapture its mojo on offense after a few weeks of subpar showings in the Big 12. It starts with Brendan Sorsby (13-25 passing for 165 yards, 2 TDs) and the whole aerial attack.

He didn't get the ball out fast enough or with enough anticipation to take advantage of a Colorado pass defense that's been stout behind Hunter and continued to be on Saturday (22nd nationally in EPA/pass allowed this season). The tight coverage and lack of accuracy mixed into Sorsby's worst passing completion mark at Cincinnati.

He got the timing rolling late in the game when the result was cemented, but that could be a way to spark the outside passing attack after nearly a month now in hibernation. Sorsby wasn't great, but Hunter and the coverage unit were pretty stellar in bringing the overall results full circle.

Sorsby should run now and then, but he chose the wheels too often on Saturday as Cincinnati goes back to the drawing board with two weeks to prepare for West Virginia at home.

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