TCU Falls Short in Week One Shootout With Colorado

Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter shine as the Buffaloes outlasted the Horned Frogs 45-42.

The excitement was high at Amon G. Carter Stadium as the TCU Horned Frogs took the field for the first time since their remarkable 2022 season. Over 53,000 were in attendance, shattering the previous record of 50,307. Yet all eyes in the college football media were on Deion Sanders as he made his coaching debut with Colorado.

I'm not sure anyone was expecting the game that the Buffaloes had. Shedeur Sanders was electric all evening, throwing for over 500 yards (a school record) with four touchdowns. Travis Hunter proved he is one of the most intriguing players in the sport. Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards and had a critical interception in the red zone. 

The teams went back and forth in the final quarter. Both teams scored touchdowns in six consecutive possessions. It felt like the momentum was finally starting to shift towards the Frogs halfway through the fourth. An 86-yard return from Major Everhart led to an easy touchdown, and on the next drive, TCU had the Buffs at a 4th and 2. Sanders found Dylan Edwards for a 46-yard touchdown, which would be the final touchdown they needed. 

Coach Prime backed up all the talk surrounding this squad. An emotional Prime after the game said, "We told you we coming. You thought we was joking. And guess what? We keep receipts." As tough as this loss may come for TCU fans, it's hard to ignore how much of an achievement this is for Colorado. A team that won one game last season came to Fort Worth and knocked off the runner-up in college football.

As for the TCU side, costly penalties and turnovers in the red zone were too much to overcome. Colorado exploited the defense all day with passes underneath and a non-existent pass rush in the first half. Chandler Morris showed flashes with his ability to utilize his legs. However, the two turnovers and his inconsistency to deliver his throws on-target were costly.  

On a positive note, the running game was fantastic. Emani Bailey finished with 14 carries for 164 yards, and Trey Sanders found the endzone three times. Tight end Jared Wiley had six catches for 69 yards and a score. 

Wiley doing Wiley things ‼️#GoFrogs | #AllSteakNoSizzle

pic.twitter.com/7pZwDhRqjN

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) September 2, 2023

Obviously, this was not the result any TCU fan was hoping for. Last year was a spectacle beyond anyone's expectations. To go 12-0 back-to-back years is an extremely tall task, especially with how much turnover this roster has had. However, this season isn't lost by any means. There is still plenty of football left, and TCU has time to prove how good they can be. 

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