Three takeaways in Colorado's loss to No. 21 Arizona

Buffaloes have lost six of the last seven game after a 3-0 start

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Buffaloes (4-6) fell short in another heartbreaker to No. 21 Arizona (7-3). It didn't seem like Jedd Fisch and the Wildcats would run out of Boulder with a 34-31 win, but they did just that. A better effort all the way around by the Buffs, especially Shedeur Sanders who carried the team.   

CU's "Grown" QB ran for a score and threw for two more in a losing effort. He  finished with 262 yards passing and surpassed the 10,000-yard mark for his career after coming from Jackson State. 

“We could have won the darn game. I like that we should have won. I’m tired of we could’ve won,” said coach Deion Sanders. “There ain’t no lose in me. It don’t sit well with me. It don’t rock well with me. It don’t lay down with me. I have no lose in me."

Colorado had chances to win. However, Arizona was the last on the field in a back-to-back scoring shootout in the second half. Alejandro Mata missed a 44-yard field goal to the right with 4:57 remaining, which would've been the go-ahead score for the Buffs. 

Arizona and freshman quarterback Noah Fifita drove half the length of the field before kicker Tyler Loop connected on a 24-yard field goal with no time remaining, giving Arizona the victory at a sold-out Folsom Field on Senior Day. Here are three takeaways from the Buffs loss to the Wildcats. 

Shedeur Sanders is a beast for the Buffs 

The Buffaloes quarterback stood tall once again and did his job. He played mistake-free and was clutch with his arm and on the ground. Pat Shurmur's play-calling was a bit better, but didn't produce a different result compared to Sean Lewis. It has little to do with Sanders and more to do with CU's recent opponents. The Buffs offense put it together and looked like the unit we've come to know and love. However, there were still silly penalties that killed drives. Sanders is on the verge of breaking several CU records going into the final two games. 

Colorado's offensive line looked improved 

The trench work was much-improved for the Buffs, and for the first time since the series of non-conference games, Shedeur Sanders wasn't being thrown around like a rag doll. He had time to step back and make confident throws down the field. It was a refreshing part to see Sanders back in the kitchen cooking. Hopefully, that momentum can stay going into Wazzo next week. 

The defense needed a stop and they never got one 

As the game rolled on into the fourth quarter, the Buffs had pulled ahead to see the Wildcats come back and tie the score. It was a back-and-forth affair and it was clear midway through the 3rd quarter that the game was going to be gritty. It came down to the final minutes. And unfortunately, Arizona had the ball while being in control of the outcome. There in the final series it felt like Colorado's defense was going to force a turnover. But that moment never came and neither did a fifth win for the Buffs. 

Colorado hits the road to face Washington State next Friday. Another Pac-12 'After Dark' special feature at 10:30 p.m. ET. on FS1.