Inside the comeback: Shedeur Sanders’ Hail Mary, Travis Hunter’s heroics fuel Colorado’s stunner vs. Baylor

A Hail Mary at the end of regulation and a game-winning stop from star Travis Hunter fueled Colorado’s 38-31 overtime win over new Big 12 foe Baylor, resulting in one of the most improbable comebacks of the season to date. To this point it is the biggest comeback ever for the Buffs under coach Deion Sanders (14 points). 

Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders hit receiver LaJohntay Wester for a 43-yard touchdown on the run as regulation expired, bringing an end to a chaotic fourth quarter. Baylor had an opportunity to strike back in overtime and brought the ball all the way to the 2-yard line. Ultimately, running back Dominic Richardson fumbled out of the back of the end zone to end the game and send Colorado to a come-from-behind victory. 

While the end-of-game heroics will deservedly get the biggest attention, the comeback really started with four minutes left in the game. Colorado went three-and-out with two sacks, and Baylor capitalized with starting field position at the Colorado 26-yard line. 

Baylor coach Dave Aranda’s staff was conservative with playcalls, opting to burn clock and play for a field goal of more than 40 yards. On second down, defensive end Samuel Okunlola diagnosed a QB draw and tackled Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson for a 5-yard line. That play ended up being one of the most important of the game as Baylor whiffed on a 46-yard field goal two plays later. 

The failure to even reach a first down meant that Colorado had more than two minutes remaining to try and engineer a game-winning drive. Here’s how the game ultimately swung towards the Buffaloes. 

The Hail Mary

Thanks to a potential game-winning drop by Will Sheppard, Colorado had only two seconds from 43 yards away to reach the end zone. Baylor decided to pressure Sanders instead of letting him sit back, but a Baylor defender confusingly decided to attack the middle of the line and leave Sanders free to roll out to his left. 

With only six Baylor defenders back in coverage, Sanders unbelievably found a tight opening for Wester to snag the ball in the crease of the zone. Somehow, the ball fell magically into the opening for one of the tightest Hail Marys you’ll ever see. Baylor expected Colorado to go for the jump ball, but the heads-up decision by Sanders meant he didn’t have to do that. 

Hunter comes through again

Colorado all-purpose player Travis Hunter has proven to be one of college football’s bas, and the Buffaloes don’t win without him. Down seven points in the second half and facing third-and-15, Sanders found Hunter for a magical 31-yard reception to set up a game-tying touchdown run by Micah Welch. 

In overtime, Hunter met Baylor’s Richardson at the goal line and used his body to smack the football right before he reached the goal line. Hunter dislodged the ball and pushed it out of the back of the end zone for a touchback — a shocking ending for the game with his heads-up defensive play. 

Hunter’s final line was sensational, as usual. The receiver caught seven passes for 130 yards. On defense, Hunter recorded three tackles with the forced fumble. No one in college football is coming close to the all-purpose brilliance of Hunter. While winning the Heisman Trophy would require an impressive stretch of luck, through four weeks, Hunter has unbelievably kept the performance going.