Colorado secures bowl eligibility with second-year coach Deion Sanders' win over Cincinnati

Deion Sanders' Colorado will play in the postseason. In Sanders' second season as head coach after taking over the worst power conference team in college football, the Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) are bowl eligible after a 34-23 win over Cincinnati.

Colorado hasn't played in a bowl game since going 4-2 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The program hasn't won a bowl game since 2004 and this season will be its third bowl appearance since 2007.

Sanders has made frequent references this year to 99-year-old Colorado superfan Peggy Coppom and his promise to invite her to a bowl game this season. The Buffaloes also have more than just one bowl in mind. Colorado is one of only four Big 12 teams with one or fewer conference losses, putting it in the running for the Big 12 title and one of the automatic bids to the 12-team College Football Playoff with the top five seeds Conference champions are reserved.

“I know Peggy. She has expensive taste. She doesn't just want a bowl. She wants a bowl. And I’m not talking about Manute (Bol),” Sanders told ESPN during the Buffaloes’ win.

Go deeper

2024 College Football Playoff Predictions: How Week 9 Affected the 12-Team Bracket

Two-way star Travis Hunter returned to the Heisman Trophy race with nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He added four pass breakups and two tackles to the defense and played a total of 130 snaps. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders suffered a hip injury in the second half and received treatment on the sidelines, but remained in the game, completing 25 of 30 through the air for 323 yards and two touchdowns.

“It’s important for us because it’s important for the fans,” Shedeur Sanders said. “We’re not reaching our peak. We’re not close yet.”

Under new defensive coordinator Rob Livingston, who is making his first appearance, the Buffaloes have built a respectable defense. They've also found a running game in recent weeks: The win over Arizona last week (128 yards) and Saturday's win (125 yards) were Colorado's two most prolific rushing performances of the season.

Sanders' transfer-heavy approach to roster construction has been criticized throughout his tenure, and the Buffaloes fell 4-8 in the postseason a year ago after a 3-0 start made them the biggest story in sports. A year later, however, Sanders is seeing results.

Now the Buffaloes have a chance to play into December. The final four games of the season – at Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas and the home finale against Oklahoma State – will determine how high they climb.

Go deeper

Travis Hunter tracker: Colorado star reinvigorates Heisman campaign with electrifying night

(Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)