The Colorado Buffaloes held on for a nail-biting 31-26 victory over North Dakota State on Thursday, marking their first win of the 2024 season. However, the game was far closer than the scoreline suggests, with the Bison nearly pulling off a dramatic comeback in the final seconds.
**Headline:** Colorado Buffaloes Survive Thrilling Finish to Defeat North Dakota State
The Colorado Buffaloes' season opener against North Dakota State was a tale of two halves, with the Buffaloes holding a slim 17-14 lead at the break. However, they tightened their defense in the second half, allowing only six points to the Bison and ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.
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The game seemed to be in Colorado's grasp late in the fourth quarter, with a pass interference call extending their drive. However, a puzzling decision to throw the ball on first down with 1:41 remaining allowed North Dakota State to gain possession with 31 seconds left.
The Bison, despite having no timeouts, quickly moved the ball down the field, thanks to several completions from quarterback Cam Miller. With just seconds remaining and facing a 53-yard deficit, Miller attempted a Hail Mary pass that was almost miraculously caught by Tyler Terhark.
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Unfortunately for the Bison, the clock ran out before they could secure the catch, handing Colorado the victory.
Despite the close call, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was relieved to get the first win of the season under his belt.
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"You don’t wanna know. I don’t use profanity, but I thought it," Sanders told ESPN after the game, referring to his thoughts on the final play.
The Buffaloes will look to continue their winning ways next week on the road against Nebraska, while North Dakota State will host Tennessee State.
In other news from the game:
* Shedeur Sanders, Deion's son, had a solid performance at quarterback for Colorado, completing 20 of 30 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.
* Colorado running back Deion Smith Jr. rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries, including a crucial 11-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
* North Dakota State's Cam Miller threw for 296 yards and one touchdown, but his last-second pass attempt came up just short of the end zone.
* The Bison defense played well throughout the game, holding Colorado to just 316 yards of total offense.
Overall, the victory was a bittersweet one for the Buffaloes, who showed signs of improvement but also made some questionable decisions in the final minutes. However, they will take solace in the fact that they have a week to prepare for the upcoming challenge against Nebraska.
