No. 18 Colorado survives 43-35 double OT comeback over CSU

The Rocky Mountain Showdown was closer than expected

Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

After being down by 11 points in the fourth quarter, No. 18 Colorado escaped with a 43-35 double-overtime win over Colorado State early Sunday morning. The turnaround left the Rams stunned. 

The Buffaloes looked flat in the early going and played with the weight of the world on their shoulders. A contest the nation thought they would keep up the momentum from the first two games. 

Shedeur Sanders brought his team back within reach after trailing for most of the second half. All without his star receiver, Travis Hunter, who was held out at halftime with a suspected injury to his abdomen in the first quarter. 

Colorado was down 28-20 with the ball at their own 3-yard line and 2:06 left. Sanders connected with Jimmy Horn Jr. was a 45-yard TD with 40 seconds remaining. The subsequent two-point conversion pass to Michael Harrison tied the game at 28 and gave the Buffs a new life.

The Buffs won the toss in overtime and started on offensive first. CU's first series in the extra period resulted in a touchdown. Two key penalties on CSU defense shot the Rams in the foot. A facemask and targeting calls on back-to-back plays with Sanders taking both, which moved the Buffs down to the 3-yard line. Sanders found Harrison in the middle of coverage for a touchdown.  

Colorado's defense tried to put the hammer down on CSU. The short field allowed the Rams to eat up yards. Brayden-Fowler-Nicolosi connected with Tory Horton for a 8-yard TD strike to force another overtime. The third passing score for BFN on the night.

Sanders and the Buffs got another crack at it and didn't disappoint. The Heisman hopeful found Harrison for an easy 18-yard touchdown, putting the Buffs back up by six. The two-point conversion pass to Xavier Weaver gave CU a 43-35 lead with CSU taking their final possession. 

Fowler-Nicolosi marched down the field with the Rams in a goal-to-go situation. A blindside block by Horton negated a rushing score by BFN and moved the Rams back to the 18. Two plays later, CSU's QB threw a fourth down pick to Trevor Woods. Fowler-Nicolosi finished with 367 yards 3 TDs and 3 INTs.

Sanders threw his first interception of the season in the first quarter. He finshed with 348 yards and four touchdowns. The third consecutive 300+ yard game for the Buffaloes QB. 

Colorado (3-0) won a sixth straight game in the Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry. It was the first overtime game in the series since 2014. 

Colorado State (0-2) drops another game in the non-conference portion of the 2023 season. The Rams face Middle Tennesse next week. 

UP NEXT: Colorado heads to Oregon to open Pac-12 play with the Ducks. A afternoon affair at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.