Colorado responds to week of ‘disrespect’ with Travis Hunter-led rout of Colorado State

Buffs make statement in season opener with impressive 49-7 victory

Hunter scores four touchdowns in dominant performance

BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes sent a message in their season opener on Saturday night, responding to a week of “disrespect” with a dominant 49-7 victory over Colorado State.

Led by freshman quarterback Travis Hunter, who scored four touchdowns, the Buffaloes overwhelmed the Rams from start to finish.

Hunter, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class, showed why he is considered one of the top prospects in the country. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and he also rushed for 100 yards and two more scores.

The Buffaloes’ defense was just as impressive, holding Colorado State to just 187 yards of offense.

The victory was a much-needed one for the Buffaloes, who were coming off a disappointing 5-7 season.

“We wanted to make a statement tonight,” said Colorado coach Karl Dorrell.

“We wanted to show everyone that we are a different team this year.

“We played with a lot of passion and energy, and we executed our game plan very well.

“I’m really proud of our players for the way they responded to the challenge this week.

“We’re going to enjoy this win, but we know that we have a lot of work to do.

“We’re going to keep working hard and getting better every day.”

Key takeaways from the game

• Travis Hunter is a special player. He is a dynamic playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field.
• The Buffaloes’ defense is much improved this year. They are playing with a lot of intensity and physicality.
• The Buffaloes are a team to watch this season. They have the talent and the coaching to be a contender in the Pac-12 Conference.

Looking ahead

The Buffaloes will host the Air Force Falcons next Saturday at Folsom Field.

The Falcons are coming off a 10-3 season and are a tough opponent.

The Buffaloes will need to play another strong game to get the victory.