Colorado head coach Deion Sanders says Colorado State showed “no respect” for his program ahead of Saturday night’s game.

Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-time star Travis Hunter responded by leading their team to a 28-9 victory away from home.

“Great game. Personal game. Heartfelt game. Emotional game. They make it a little bit like that,” Sanders said after the win, according to DNVR’s Jake Schwanitz. “The disrespect was uncalled for during the week. We knew it was going to get a little personal. I just pray that our kids never act like that because you guys would have a holiday with it.

“Great win. The offensive line was phenomenal. The defense picked up where it picked up last week in the second half.”

In the week leading up to the game, CBS News Colorado’s Romi Bean shared an interview from Colorado State’s media day, in which quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton addressed their in-state rivals.

The Rams players referenced last year’s game between Colorado and Colorado State, in which the Buffaloes needed two overtime periods to win a thrilling home game.

“They came out with that attitude and thought it was going to be a piece of cake,” Fowler-Nicolosi told CBS News Colorado of the 2023 game (transcript h/t Fox Sports.) “They got a rude awakening very quickly. I think it just goes to show that the hype, the media frenzy, all that can only take you so far. At the end of the day, you’ve got to put 11 guys up against our 11 guys and we’ll find out who wants it more. We’ll see how far Instagram followers take them.”

Horton added: “The millions of followers and fans that they’ve produced and gotten and celebrities that have jumped on their side because of who Deion Sanders is. At the end of the day, Deion Sanders doesn’t play. It’s those players that play. So those players have to walk the talk.”

Sanders said after the win that he was pleased with the way his team responded to the comments from the Colorado State players, except that the Buffaloes were “angry” that they allowed the Rams to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Colorado still managed to claim the team’s strongest win of the season after a narrow season-opener win over North Dakota State and a loss to rival Nebraska last week. Sanders will now hope to carry that momentum into next Saturday’s home game against Baylor.