BOULDER, Co. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw a pair of touchdown passes to Travis Hunter and ran for a score to help Colorado become bowl eligible with a 34-23 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday night.

Sanders put on quite an effective air showcompleting 25 of 30 passes for 323 yards. He completed his first 15 passes, which was the most to start a game in program history. Not bad considering he’s getting over the flu.

Hunter had nine catches for 153 yards, including a 34-yard TD with three seconds left before halftime. On defense, the two-way star and Heisman hopeful broke up four passes.

“Travis is the best football player in the country,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “We all know that. Why are we even deliberating about this?”

The Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) are eligible for a full-season bowl game for the first time since 2016. They also went to a bowl game in 2020 during the COVID-shortened year . It’s been quite a turnaround for Colorado in Year 2 under Sanders. The team finished 4-8 a year ago after a fast start.

“We are on a wonderful journey,” said the Buffaloes coach. “We know the direction we’re going.”

The first call Sanders made after his victory was to Peggy Coppom, the Buffaloes superfan who turns 100 next month. She was a rallying point for Sanders – to take her to a bowl game.

“Now we want to make sure he goes to the best possible bowl he could go to,” Sanders said.

Colorado took a 31-14 lead with 5:41 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard run by Isaiah Augustave. Shedeur Sanders, however, appeared to be treading carefully along the edge shortly after the drive. He spent time on the stationary bike when the defense was on the field.

The Bearcats (5-3, 3-2) cut the deficit to 31-23 with 3:51 left when Brendan Sorsby connected with tight end Joe Royer for a 6-yard TD. They tried two points and couldn’t convert.

Pinned deep after the kickoff, Sanders went for broke and completed a 34-yard pass to Hunter. The drive led to Alejandro Mata’s 47-yard field goal with 1:39 left.

“Every win,” Shedeur Sanders said, “definitely gives us a confidence boost.”

Now, the Buffaloes could be looking at an appearance in the polls. Deion Sanders would rather not see that happen.

“Don’t classify us, please,” Sanders said. “We don’t like that. I’d rather be in the back in the dark, just chilling.”

Sorsby finished with 180 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“I don’t think any guy on the sideline has ever given up hope,” Sorsby said. “It’s a credit to this team and this staff.”

The game took a turn just before halftime when Colorado’s defense stuffed Sorsby on fourth-and-1 at the 46 with 33 seconds left. It led to Sanders finding a wide open Hunter to give Colorado a 24-14 halftime lead.

“That momentum shift right before halftime was huge, obviously, in their favor,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “He’s obviously disappointed with the loss, he didn’t play great.”

The Buffaloes committed three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, including one on safety Shilo Sanders in the fourth quarter that briefly landed him on the bench. There was another one on Jimmy Horn Jr. early in the game. He caught a pass from Sanders and ran 57 yards for what would have been a touchdown in the first quarter, but when he slipped past a Cincinnati defensive back displayed a “peace” sign.. He drew a flag and voided the score.

Hunter bailed out his fellow receiver with a 3-yard TD catch.

At one point, Deion Sanders implored fans over the public address system not to throw anything on the field. He reiterated this point after the game.

“The people who do this, you’re better than that,” Sanders said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Cincinnati: The Bearcats defense struggled to get consistent pressure on Sanders and sacked him just once.

Colorado: The Buffaloes looked adorable in their gray uniforms with white helmets. They also found some traction on the ground, rushing for 123 yards.

NEXT

Cincinnati: One week off before hosting West Virginia on Nov. 9.

Colorado: The Buffaloes will have a second bye week before playing at Texas Tech on Nov. 9.