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College football scores, highlights: Colorado survives scare in opener against North Dakota State

Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes certainly didn't want their home opener to be that close, but they came away with the win nonetheless.

Colorado held off a game North Dakota State team thanks to monster performances from Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to win their first game of the season, 31-26.

Sanders finished with 445 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hunter caught three of the TDs and had 132 receiving yards. Jimmy Horn also had 7 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown.

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    Final: Colorado 31, NDSU 26

    It came down to a Hail Mary and NDSU caught it but was short of the goal line by 5 yards.

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  • Final: North Carolina 19, Minnesota 17

    Minnesota's Dragan Kesich misses a 47-yard field goal attempt JUST wide right at the buzzer at the Tar Heels hang on for a dramatic road victory in a game where UNC starter QB Max Johnson went down with an ugly knee injury.

  • UNC quarterback Max Johnson is being carted off the field against Minnesota. The transfer from Texas A&M looks like he twisted his knee on the play. Emotional scene for the QB.

    Minnesota leads 14-10 late in the 3rd.

  • The Bison can't do enough buried deep in their own territory and the Buffaloes will escape with a win in their opener.

  • The Buffs will punt the ball back to NDSU with 38 seconds left.

  • Colorado decided to throw the ball on first down and it fell incomplete, which opens the door back up for NDSU. The Buffs are facing a third down.

  • Colorado given a pass interference penalty after Shedeur Sanders scrambled and threw the ball up for grabs.

  • The Buffs are facing a third-and-long. NDSU needs a stop to keep the game alive.

  • Touchdown NDSU!

    Cam Miller runs it in from 20 yards out to cut into Colorado's lead with just over 2 minutes left. They don't convert on the 2-point conversion though.

  • The Bison were nearing the red zone but a deep sack will push them out closer to midfield. They're running out of time.

  • Final: NC State 38, Western Carolina 21

    It was scary for a minute for the Wolfpack, who trailed in the 4th quarter as a 32.5-point favorite, but NC State outscored WCU 21-0 in the 4th to pull away for the victory.

  • Touchdown Colorado!

    It's Travis Hunter AGAIN! That was clearly his best catch of the night, contested and pushed down as he caught it. It's his third TD catch. Just look at this:

  • The Buffs are nearing the NDSU red zone with a methodical drive of their own. They have it at the 30 with just over 12 minutes left in the game.

  • The Utes are rolling in Salt Lake City. Cam Rising is 10-15 for 254 yards and 5 touchdowns as the game heads to half. His last game was the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2022 season.

  • End of 3Q: Colorado 24, NDSU 20

    The Buffs have the ball and a first down in their own territory to start the fourth quarter.

  • NC State 31, Western Carolina 21

    Jordan Waters bulldozes his way into the end zone for a 7-yard TD and it looks like the Wolfpack are going to avoid disaster here. 6:32 to play.

  • NDSU's drive fizzles out there though, and Colorado will get the ball back at its own 20.

  • The Bison are on the march again. They just crossed midfield with just under 3 minutes left in the third quarter.

  • NC State 24, Western Carolina 21

    NC State fans can exhale a bit. KC Concepcion with a nice 35-yard catch and run touchdown to give the Wolfpack the lead early in the 4th.

    Concepcion has scored all 3 of NC State's TDs.

  • Touchdown Colorado!

    It's Travis Hunter again. The two-way star shucks his defender and gets his feet down in the end zone to put the Buffs back on top.

  • Shedeur Sanders goes deep to Jimmy Horn again for a 44-yard chunk and the Buffs are inside the red zone already.

  • North Dakota State isn't able to do anything on the ensuing drive and punts it back to Colorado.

  • Interception NDSU!

    The Buffs were driving for a score and a fluky deflection falls right into the hands of a NDSU defender for a pick! What a huge play in Boulder.

  • We are back for the second half of Colorado-NDSU and the Buffs are nearing the end zone after a deep catch from Travis

  • Western Carolina 21, NC State 17

    Branson Adams' 17-yard TD run helps the Catamounts retake the lead over NC State late in the 3rd quarter. Panic time for NC State?

  • End of 2Q: NDSU 20, Colorado 17

    The Buffs quickly moved into field goal range just before half with two deep completions from Shedeur Sanders. Alejandro Mata nails the short FG just before the break to cut into the lead, but Colorado still trails in its home opener.

  • Jalon Daniels is back and he's doing Jalon Daniels things for the Jayhawks.

  • After a sack on Shedeur Sanders at midfield, Colorado chooses to punt it this time instead of going for it. There's 2:41 to go in the first half and NDSU will take over deep in its own territory.

  • Colorado is on the move after another long catch from Jimmy Horn. That's three catches for 103 yards and a TD already for Horn.

  • NDSU settles for field goal

    The Buffs are finally able to stiffen up and hold the Bison before a 28-yard field goal by Griffin Crosa.

  • NC State officially on upset watch 👀

  • Colorado could've gotten off the field on third down near the end zone, but a late-hit penalty by Shilo Sanders keeps the drive alive for NDSU.

  • Colorado turns it over on downs

    The Buffs go for it on fourth down at their own 35-yard line and THEY DON'T GET IT!

  • Touchdown NDSU!

    The Bison were methodical with that drive and got some help with a crucial offsides call on Colorado. In the end, it's NDSU QB Cam Miller sprinting around the corner for a 7-yard TD.

  • Arkansas looking pretty comfortable early in its opener against UA-Pine Bluff:

  • End of Q1: Colorado 14, NDSU 10

    The Bison are on the move again as the first quarter comes to a close. They'll start the second at Colorado 44.

  • Touchdown Colorado!

    How's that for a reply? Jimmy Horn Jr. catches a deep crossing route from Shedeur Sanders and takes it 69 yards to the house! We're gonna have some offense in this one folks.

  • Touchdown NDSU!

    Facing a third-and-goal at the 7-yard line, Joe Stoffel makes the catch from Cam Miller in the end zone to put the Bison back on top.

  • Western Carolina 14, NC State 7, end of 1st

    Cole Gonzales has two TD passes for the Catamounts, who are putting a scare into the Wolfpack in Raleigh.

  • Utah transfer Ja'Quinden Jackson already putting in work for Arkansas ... and having a little fun while he's at it.

  • The Bison are moving the ball on the ensuing drive. They're over midfield with a few first downs and nearing the red zone.

  • Touchdown Colorado!

    Of course it's Travis Hunter that's first on the board for the Buffs. He catches a quick stop route from Shedeur Sanders and makes a move before running 41 yards for a touchdown.

  • Don't look now, but 32.5-point underdog Western Carolina of the FCS is on the board first against NC State, thanks to a big interception by Ken Moore Jr. WCU takes a quick 7-0.

  • NDSU 3, Colorado 0

    NDSU's drive stalls out after the big gain and they settle for a field goal.

  • NDSU breaks one deep! Bison wide receiver TK Marshall catches a short pass and zips 51 yards through the Colorado defense for a monster gain.

  • The ESPN telecast claims there are 31 scouts on hand, presumably to scout QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/CB Travis Hunter.

  • We are underway in Boulder! North Dakota State will start with the ball.

  • Colorado vs. North Dakota State is about to kick off.