Rain was coming down in Boulder. The air felt heavy, the kind of heavy that usually signals a home team is about to trudge off the field with a frustrating "L" next to their name. If you looked at the Baylor vs Colorado score with two seconds left on the clock in regulation, you probably already had your mind made up. Baylor was up 31-24. The Buffaloes were out of timeouts. They were 43 yards away from the end zone.
Then Shedeur Sanders happened.
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Basically, what we saw on September 21, 2024, wasn't just a football game; it was a chaotic, beautiful, and slightly ridiculous mess that ended in a 38-31 overtime victory for Colorado. It’s the kind of game that reminds you why college football is the best soap opera on television.
The Hail Mary and the Baylor vs Colorado Score
Honestly, Baylor had this game. They really did. Dave Aranda’s squad played a disciplined game for about 59 minutes and 58 seconds. They sacked Shedeur Sanders eight times. Eight! That’s usually enough to bury any quarterback's spirit, but Sanders is different. He stayed upright just long enough to heave a desperation prayer into a cluster of bodies in the end zone.
LaJohntay Wester was the one who came down with it. He didn't just catch it; he cradled it while sliding across the wet turf as the clock hit zeros. Folsom Field went absolutely nuclear. That play tied the Baylor vs Colorado score at 31-31, forcing an overtime period that felt almost like an afterthought because the stadium was already in a frenzy.
Breaking Down the Box Score
If you look at the stats, you'd think Baylor deserved to win. They were more efficient in several areas, yet they couldn't close the door.
- Passing: Shedeur Sanders threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Sawyer Robertson for Baylor had 148 yards and two scores of his own.
- Special Teams: This was nearly the undoing of Colorado. Jamaal Bell returned a kickoff 100 yards for a Baylor touchdown in the second quarter. It was a gut-punch that gave the Bears a 17-10 lead at the time.
- Defense: Baylor’s pass rush was relentless. Keaton Thomas and Steve Linton each had two sacks. They lived in the Colorado backfield.
Why the Final Result Still Matters
People are still talking about this game because it defined the "Coach Prime" era in a single night. It had the hype, the mistakes, the individual brilliance of Travis Hunter, and the flair for the dramatic.
Travis Hunter is essentially a human highlight reel who doesn't seem to get tired. After playing nearly every snap on both sides of the ball, he was the one who made the game-winning play in overtime. Baylor was inches away from scoring a touchdown to potentially force a second overtime. Hunter met Baylor's Dominic Richardson at the goal line, put his helmet right on the ball, and forced a fumble.
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The ball rolled through the end zone for a touchback. Game over.
Fans rushed the field before the referees even finished the review. It was pure, unadulterated college football chaos. The final Baylor vs Colorado score of 38-31 will be etched in Boulder lore for a long time, mostly because of how improbable it felt throughout the second half.
Key Moments You Might Have Forgotten
- Sawyer Robertson's Legs: The Baylor QB wasn't just a passer; he ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that left the Buffs' defense looking flat-footed.
- The Folsom Field Rain: The weather played a massive factor. It made the ball slick, which makes Hunter’s forced fumble and Wester’s diving catch even more impressive.
- Micah Welch's Grittiness: The freshman running back for Colorado scored both of the Buffs' rushing touchdowns, including the one-yard plunge in overtime that provided the winning margin.
What This Game Taught Us
Baylor proved they could be physical and frustrate a high-powered offense. They almost executed the perfect road game plan. They controlled the clock, used their special teams to create points, and punished the opposing quarterback. But football is a game of inches, and in this case, a game of two seconds.
For Colorado, this was about survival. They didn't play "good" football for large stretches, but they played "winning" football when it mattered most. It showed that even when the offensive line is struggling—giving up those eight sacks—having elite playmakers like Sanders, Hunter, and Wester can mask a lot of flaws.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking back at this game to understand future matchups between these two, keep these things in mind:
- Don't ignore the trenches: Baylor’s ability to sack Sanders eight times shows a massive vulnerability in Colorado's protection that hasn't fully gone away.
- The "Hunter Factor": Never bet against Travis Hunter making a defensive play late in the game. His conditioning is at a level we rarely see in the modern era.
- Watch the Special Teams: Baylor’s 100-yard return was a reminder that Colorado’s kick coverage can be a liability against fast returners.
The 2024 showdown ended with a Baylor vs Colorado score that favored the Buffaloes, but the real winner was anyone who stayed tuned in until the very last second.
To get the most out of future Big 12 matchups, start tracking "sacks allowed" versus "explosive play rate." Often, a team like Colorado will give up negative yardage all game only to erase it with one 40-yard strike. For Baylor, the focus should remain on their red zone efficiency, as failing to secure the ball at the one-yard line was the difference between a win and a heartbreaking loss.