Fans Sympathize With Shedeur Sanders After Protection Meltdown vs. UCLA

The internet showed support for the budding star—but not his offensive line.

Colorado’s loss against UCLA on Saturday night was an ugly outing for the team. But quarterback Shedeur Sanders proved to be the one bright spot in an otherwise putrid performance by an offense, and the internet showed some sympathy for him. It did not have the same empathy for the rest of his teammates, though. 

The Buffaloes 28–16 loss to the Bruins marked its fourth loss in the last five games and dropped Deion Sanders’s squad to 1–4 in conference play. Saturday’s shortcomings, however, were a result of an offense that was clearly outmatched up front. 

Sanders was sacked seven times and had 13 carries for a total of -20 yards. Additionally, he was pressured 24 times and was hit on 17 occasions. The UCLA defense also tallied 10 tackles for loss and held Colorado to just 25 yards on the ground. The only positive in Colorado’s performance was Sanders’s 217 passing yards and one touchdown, making it all the more sadder that he had little to no help this weekend. 

The college football world shared that same sentiment and flooded the internet with memes to support Sanders—just not the rest of his team. Here are some of the best reactions to Colorado’s latest loss:

Shedeur sanders on the colorado bench after getting hit every play of every drive pic.twitter.com/C9NIVlnKDJ

— John (@iam_johnw) October 29, 2023

Man this is heartbreaking. Shedeur Sanders deserves better than this:
pic.twitter.com/B6CyJGf490

— NoSkoZone (@noskozone) October 29, 2023

How Colorado O-line got shedeur onna bench looking pic.twitter.com/mbWdy1cJqk

— ʎǝɹʇ℗ (@tr3ycap) October 29, 2023

Shedeur Sanders on the bench knowing he has to go back out there behind that OL pic.twitter.com/c0tfCAvBO0

— Tommy Gahan (@tommysgahan) October 29, 2023

Colorado’s offensive line blocking for Shedeur pic.twitter.com/qfrtoHqIsk

— Marcé (@MilesisOfficial) October 29, 2023

Colorado’s running backs have seven total carries in a game that has been a one score game almost the entire time.

The offensive line has been atrocious but the playcalling has completely hung them out to dry, allowing the elite UCLA front to just tee off on Shedeur #cubuffs

— Troy Finnegan (@troyfinnegan) October 29, 2023

Shedeur sanders needs to go into every Colorado offensive linemen locker and take these away after the game https://t.co/y2GfIKhct4

— John (@iam_johnw) October 29, 2023

Man watching Shedeur Sanders get hit like this is hard. He can't keep taking hits like this.😔 one thing you can no longer deny...This man is a fighter and one of the best QBs in College Football. The most hit QB has the most yards in CFB. Protect him!#freetylerbrown #skobuffs pic.twitter.com/SHhU0nalvT

— NoSkoZone (@noskozone) October 29, 2023