October 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders (2) at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. rebilas-imagen images Colorado and Cincinnati both look to maintain momentum and remain bowl eligible as they continue their bounce-back seasons on Saturday night in Boulder, Colo.
The Bearcats (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) are on a two-game win streak and defeated Arizona State 24-14 at home last week. They missed a bowl game last season with a 3-9 record and went 1-8 in their first Big 12 campaign.
Returning to the Big 12 for the first time since 2011, the Buffaloes (5-2, 3-1) won 34-7 at Arizona last week to increase their win total to the first since last season’s 4-8 campaign. Have crossed it. With a win, Colorado would be bowl eligible for only the third time since 2007.
Cincinnati returns behind quarterback Brandon Sorsby, who has 1,928 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, a team-high six rushing touchdowns and four interceptions.
Corey Kiner leads the Bearcats with 628 rushing yards. Xavier Henderson has 541 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. Jared Bartlett has 4.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
“I like the way (Cincinnati) attacks,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “They get to the ball and I like what they’re accomplishing this season. We can’t make mistakes or start slow. We’ve got to get them.”
The Bearcats and Buffaloes are tied with Kansas State and Texas Tech with a Big 12 loss each.
“There’s a lot on the line,” Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. “We both sit near the top of the conference with a lot at stake.”
Last week, the Colorado defense recorded seven sacks of Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita and held Arizona to a season low. Colorado has 16 sacks over its last three games and leads the Big 12 with 21.
Shadure Sanders ranks fifth in the nation with 2,268 passing yards and second with 27.68 completions per game. The senior ranks fifth in the nation with 19 touchdown passes against six interceptions.
Two-way star Travis Hunter leads Colorado with 604 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. LaJounte Wester has 445 receiving yards and a team-high seven TD catches.
“(Colorado) has an unbelievable passing game,” Satterfield said. “They’re hard to defend against, hard to stop and hard to slow down.”
–Field Level Media