Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter have taken next step -- and Buffs need all their brilliance to win

If Colorado makes a bowl game, it will only come on the back of its two biggest stars

By Shehan Jeyarajah Aug 30, 2024 at 3:02 am ET• 2 min read

Colorado reeled in the nation's No. 8 transfer class. They brought in five new offensive line starters. The Buffs rebuilt the defense. They replaced both offensive and defensive playcallers, along with three other assistant coaches. 

One game into the season, it doesn't matter. The Buffs will go exactly as far as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter can take them. The good news for Colorado? Its two biggest stars are even better than they were last year.

In a 31-26 victory over North Dakota State, Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns. He showed some real growth from an impressive first season, stepping into the pocket and absorbing some unbelievably big hits from North Dakota State defenders. Sanders has always been a tough player, but his toughness took another step forward in Week 1. 

After almost any other game, Sanders would have been the biggest story of the day. Unfortunately for him, Hunter was on the same field. Hunter rose to stardom one year ago after torching reigning national runner-up TCU on both sides of the ball in a 45-42 upset victory. Against the Bison, he was even better.