Leave it to a #Pac12AfterDark game to bring out the drama when the evening starts to wane. The Colorado Buffaloes played sloppy against the lowly Arizona State Sun Devils in college football‘s Week 6 matchup. It took a game-winning drive from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to avoid a potential overtime upset.
Shedeur Sanders’ Clutch 4th Quarters Continue
After producing at least 348 passing yards in four of his first five games with Colorado, Sanders was unexpectedly struggling against the Sun Devils. Sanders was statistically worse against an overpowered Oregon team, tossing for only 159 yards while taking seven sacks. But that was hard to hold against the junior, considering the team’s talent difference.
Arizona State was supposed to be a different story — they ranked 50th in passing defense compared to Oregon’s seventh-best unit. But until Sanders walked onto the field for the game’s final drive, he had less than 200 passing yards.
SHEDEUR TO ANTONIO FOR A HUGE GAIN 🦬@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/tvfWjRWWAE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 8, 2023
In a tied game at 24, after Arizona State had just scored a touchdown, Sanders immediately threw a deep pass outside the left hashmark to wide receiver Javon Antonio. Antonio was wide open, secured the ball, and lost his balance after slowing down to reel in the pass.
Sanders completed one more pass before Colorado kicked the go-ahead 43-yard field goal with only 12 seconds remaining on the clock. Colorado had trailed 17-14 at the half and was shut out from scoring in the third quarter.
Social media immediately lauded Sanders for his continued clutch play late in games. While his father and head coach, Deion Sanders, is nicknamed “Prime,” the younger Sanders is consistently called “clutch” for good reason.
Sanders Channels Inner Tom ‘Brady Mode’
After the game, Sanders said he went “Brady Mode,” referring to legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Brady was infamously deadly with the ball in his hands while trailing from behind or needing to close out a win. His ability to perform consistently in the game’s biggest moments made him legendary.
Shedeur Sanders said he went “Brady mode” on the final drive.
“They left too much time on the clock” pic.twitter.com/nPpk3zjMUm
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) October 8, 2023
Sanders is working to become a premier NFL Draft prospect in his own right. Already in 2023, Sanders has jumped from a Day 3 grade to a high Day 2 grade. He’s continued to show off an NFL skill set and physical traits throughout his first five games at Colorado.
It’s not like Sanders was a slouch at Jackson State, either. But it was hard to know how his style of play at a lower level of competition would translate. Putting him in a new, more advanced offense and playing against better opponents allowed us to see how he’d respond.
Thus far, Sanders has been highly impressive. His passing mechanics have tightened and become more reliable. He’s an elite creator on broken plays. And he’s as good of a deep passer as any in college.
With over half the season left, there’s more time for Sanders to continue writing his legacy. He can declare for the 2024 NFL Draft but could also return to Colorado and enter the 2025 class if he wants to use his full collegiate eligibility.