Colorado won its Big 12 opener, its first conference game since 2010, thanks to Micah Welch’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime for a 38-31 victory over Baylor. The Bears appeared to tie the game on the next possession, but Dominic Richardson fumbled while trying to jump over the goal line.
The game went into overtime after Baylor took a 31-24 lead with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter on Sawyer Robertson’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Hal Presley. Colorado then had a chance to drive in for a game-tying touchdown after Isaiah Hankins missed a 45-yard field goal that would have extended Baylor’s lead to 10 points. Will Sheppard dropped what would have been a 43-yard touchdown on the five-yard line.
However, on the next play with two seconds left, Sanders slid to the left and connected with LaJohntay Wester on a sliding reception in the end zone that tied the score 31-31. Thirty years after Kordell Stewart hit Michael Westbrook for a 64-yard Hail Mary At Michigan Stadium, Colorado scored on another miracle shot.
The Buffaloes scored the game’s first touchdown, capping a 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Sanders. But Baylor reached the end zone on three of its next four possessions. First, Monaray Baldwin made a spectacular diving catch for a 30-yard touchdown.
After a Colorado field goal to tie the game 10-10, the Bears scored on the ensuing kickoff when Jamaal Bell returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown. After finding a lane at the Baylor 30-yard line, Bell outpaced all pursuers the rest of the way.
Baylor took a 24-10 lead when Robertson ran up the middle on 4th-and-1, but broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run.
Colorado closed to within 24-17 on its final possession of the first half. After a holding penalty on Jordan Seaton pushed the Buffaloes back to their own 25, Sanders completed a 17-yard pass to Jimmy Horn Jr. to reach midfield. On the next play, Sanders ducked under a tackle from Steve Linton running along the edge before rolling to his right and throwing a pass to Omarion Miller.
Miller appeared to be tackled low, but his knee never touched the ground and he regained his balance to run 35 yards to the end zone, completing a 58-yard touchdown pass. A review of the play confirmed that Miller’s left knee did not touch the ground and the score stood.
Travis Hunter recorded his fifth consecutive 100-yard receiving game, the first Colorado player to do so. On the season, he has 36 receptions for 468 yards and five touchdowns. His diving 31-yard catch late in the third quarter helped the Buffaloes tie the game at 24-24 on Micah Welch’s two-yard touchdown run.
Colorado visits UCF (3-0) next Saturday, Baylor faces BYU. Kickoff times for both games have not yet been announced.