The Denver Broncos and CU Buffs gave their fanbases something they desperately needed this past weekend: hope.
The Broncos dominated the Buccaneers with a 26-7 win, controlling the game from start to finish. CU’s win came with more excitement—a last-second Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders followed by a game-winning forced fumble by Travis Hunter in overtime, moving them to a 3-1 record.
It felt great to end Sunday night with both teams securing victories, a rare occurrence that hadn’t happened in a weekend since 2021. It’s been a long wait for fans.
Starting with the Broncos, their victory over Tampa Bay might have salvaged their season. Only one team since 2002 has made the playoffs after starting 0-3, so losing to the Bucs would have made postseason hopes almost impossible.
This isn’t to say Sean Payton and Bo Nix will guide the Broncos to the playoffs, but at least discussions about draft positioning are on hold. If they can defeat the New York Jets next Sunday and complete a 2-0 road trip, Denver will head back home with a 2-2 record, giving them a fresh start as October begins.
Nix looked composed in Florida, playing like he did in preseason by scoring on most of his drives. The Broncos punted only twice, with Nix leading two touchdowns and setting up four Wil Lutz field goals—a recipe for success.
Defensively, Vance Joseph is earning redemption. After shutting down Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and the Bucs’ offense, his stock is rising. If the defense can continue to hold strong and Nix protects the ball (zero turnovers, zero sacks), the Broncos might just reach eight or nine wins. The victory over Tampa Bay helped erase the frustration of earlier losses to the Seahawks and Steelers.
As for the Buffs, their victory was nothing short of thrilling. The miracle Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders will go down in CU history. Sanders is proving just how talented he is, and in overtime, it was Travis Hunter who sealed the win with a clutch defensive play.
Hunter may not be a frontrunner in the Heisman race, but it’s clear he’s one of the best players in college football. NFL teams are surely keeping an eye on him, and it’s becoming more plausible that he could be a No. 1 draft pick.
After a tough loss to Nebraska, where CU was down 28-0 in a rivalry game, fans were understandably frustrated. The Buffs’ 4-8 record last year under Coach Prime had left a sour taste. But now, after stealing a win they likely would have lost last season, there’s a renewed sense of optimism.
It’s still early in the season, and both the Broncos and Buffs are giving fans a reason to enjoy football again. While neither team is on a clear path to a championship, it doesn’t seem like their seasons will end in disappointment either. That’s a refreshing change after years of rough football in Colorado.
