Early observations from Colorado’s 38-31 overtime win over Baylor in the Buffs’ return to the Big 12 at Folsom Field:

The Sanders Show: Baylor entered this game with the best passing defense (based on yards allowed per game) in the country, but the Bears had also faced an FCS team, Air Force, and half a game against Utah’s backup quarterback. Shedeur Sanders is the best QB the Bears have ever faced, and their secondary got a lot of help from the pass rush. Still, Sanders made several “wow” plays under pressure, even if it didn’t appear to be a video-game numbers-type night. Whether it was buying time to find a receiver or just getting positive yardage on a play that looked DOA, this was some of Sanders’ best work and why he could be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Oh, and Shedeur-to-Wester will live in CU lore until the end of time.

Still a cheat code: From the non-breaking news department — Travis Hunter is a spectacular football player. This was another masterclass from the two-way superstar. When the Colorado offense stalled, Hunter made some of CU’s biggest plays of the game. He also drew a pass interference on a third-and-long that led to a Buffs touchdown. Hunter was also a monster on defense, shutting down one side of the field for the Baylor passing attack and also making some big tackles in the open field. He also forced the fumble on the goal line to end the game — that’s that. There aren’t four better players in the country than No. 12 Boulder. Maybe there aren’t any.

Offensive blocking: Colorado’s offensive line had a great game against rival Colorado State. That unit didn’t cover itself in glory against Baylor and still hasn’t proven it can consistently block a Power 4 defense in 2024. The Bears practically dared the Buffs to run the ball at times, but outside of the first play from scrimmage and some Shedeur Sanders magic, moving the ball on the ground was a struggle for much of the game. And then there were the problems in pass protection. Sanders ran for his life on about three-quarters of his dropbacks, and Baylor’s sack total would have been a dozen or more had the quarterback not been able to shake tackles.

Concerns about coverage: The Buffs had a couple of problematic holes in their special teams coverage that even an Aflac call couldn’t fix. Jamaal Bell’s 100-yard kick return for a touchdown was the headliner, but Josh Cameron also had a pair of profitable punt returns in the first half that totaled 71 yards. He added another big return late in the fourth quarter for a hat trick that could have decided the game if Bears kicker Isaiah Hankins had made a field goal. Baylor mustered a field goal and a touchdown on drives after Cameron’s first two returns. Bell’s kick return looked like a significant breakdown. He caught the ball on the goal line and it was clear Bell was going to make a house call before he reached his own 20-yard line.