Video: Shedeur Sanders Reacts to Colorado’s Run Game, Pick-6 After Nebraska Loss

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 8, 2024

Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

Colorado finished with just 16 yards on 22 carries behind a struggling offensive line during its 28-10 loss to Nebraska on Saturday, which prompted quarterback Shedeur Sanders to react to the overall running game.

“Of course, whenever you’re able to run the ball consistently, then that opens up the pass,” he told reporters. “But you gotta understand what your team is good at. Why would we keep running the ball if we get in a situation where it’s a must get and we don’t get it?”

He was also asked about struggles in short-yardage situations and said, “if we’re going to go down, I’d rather go down swinging. Because I know I can throw the best pass.”

DNVR Buffs @DNVR_BuffsShedeur on Colorado’s running game and if they need to be more balanced on offense: pic.twitter.com/a9zrmtRQeO

Unfortunately for Colorado, one of his passes was a pick-six in the first quarter.

“It was a rookie mistake, honestly,” he said. “Things like that just can’t happen. But when it does we just gotta bounce back.”

The Buffaloes never got things rolling on offense until it was too late and scored their first and only touchdown in the fourth quarter when Sanders found LaJohntay Wester.

There were some things to build on, as the defense didn’t allow a single point in the second half and two-way star Travis Hunter shined again with 10 catches for 110 yards. Still, the game was never in doubt for the Cornhuskers after they extended their lead to 28-0 before intermission.

Sanders and Hunter are two of the biggest stars in college football and could hear their names called in the first five picks of the 2025 NFL draft, but the supporting cast around them isn’t deep or talented enough to compete against better competition like what Nebraska offered Saturday.

And much of those concerns start with the offensive line.

“Protections were a problem,” head coach Deion Sanders told reporters. “You know, I’m trying to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you’re thinking, but if I say it, you’d say I’m throwing my guys up under the bus. I’m not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem. We gotta figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that.”

That left Shedeur Sanders facing pressure throughout the game as he was sacked five times. It also meant the running game was virtually nonexistent.

Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden averaged a solid 6.4 yards per carry but had just five attempts. Other than that, the running game gained no traction, especially after the Buffaloes fell behind by multiple scores and turned even more to the aerial attack in comeback mode.

Perhaps things can change in the next game against Colorado State, which gave up 190 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in a season-opening loss to Texas.

Colorado isn’t Texas, which picked up a massive victory over Michigan on Saturday, but there figures to be more running holes against the Rams than there were against the Cornhuskers.

It will need to take advantage of those opportunities to take some of the pressure off Sanders, especially if he is going to remain healthy and look to lead the way against formidable Big 12 opponents such as Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Arizona later in the season.