ORLANDO, Fla. – Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team traveled by plane to Florida on Wednesday, one day earlier than they had planned, all to avoid the hurricane that made landfall in the state on Thursday.
Then they tried to get ready for all of this – a warm, wet and humid game Saturday against Central Florida and the No. 1 rushing offense in the nation (375.7 yards per game).
Last week, the Buffaloes (3-1) needed a miracle to survive a wet homecoming game in Boulder against Baylor. On Saturday, they might need another one at sold-out FBC Mortgage Stadium, at least according to oddsmakers who favor the Knights (3-0) by 14 points.
The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox and will mark a different kind of homecoming for Sanders and many of his players from the Sunshine State, including two-way star Travis Hunter, who is from West Palm Beach.
A big question is whether Hunter will be enough against the Knights. He’s lifted the Buffs to victory at times this year, along with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But this might be a taller task. UCF hasn’t scored fewer than 35 points this season under coach Guz Malzahn.
Follow along here for the latest updates, news and highlights.
UCF gets back in the game
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado just let Central Florida back into the game with 3:58 left in the third quarter. The Buffs seemed to sleep on their 20-point lead and allowed three big pass plays of 54, 23 and 15 yards from UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson. The last one was a play-fake for a 15-yard touchdown up the middle to receiver Xavier Townsend, helping cut CU’s lead to 34-21.
The drive went 92 yards in three plays.
Travis Hunter strikes Heisman pose after incredible interception
ORLANDO, Fla. – Travis Hunter just did what?
We shouldn’t be surprised anymore by what he does, but the Colorado two-way star still inspires awe by coming up with the ball at just the right time. This time he even struck the Heisman Trophy pose after making an interception against Central Florida with about eight minutes left in the third quarter.
He stepped in front of the UCF pass on the left sideline, taking the ball away from intended receiver Evan Morris, the UCF tight end.
Unfortunately for Colorado, the Buffs couldn’t capitalize on it despite gaining possession at the UCF 38-yard line. They ended up punting it back to UCF with a 34-14 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
Hunter also has nine catches for 79 yards and a touchdown on offense.
Colorado extends lead
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders just led the Buffaloes on their sixth scoring drive in their past seven possessions, helping them take a 34-14 lead against Central Florida with 9:11 left in the third quarter.
The Buffs marched 63 yards on four plays to score this time, highlighted by a 32-yard pass to receiver Will Sheppard that brought the ball to the UCF 1-yard line. Freshman running back Micah Welch then scored on a 1-yard run up the middle.
Welch has 33 yards on four carries to help revive the Colorado running game.
Colorado leads UCF at halftime 27-14
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado leads Central Florida at halftime 27-14 after scoring two field goals in the final 42 seconds of the second quarter.
The first came after another clutch play by two-way starter Travis Hunter, who grabbed a pass from Shedeur Sanders on third down and six for a 29-yard gain, keeping the Buffaloes’ drive alive before they went up 24-14.
Sanders had rolled left to escape pressure and threw it into coverage, where Hunter plucked it away near the UCF 40-yard line. The Buffs’ drive then sputtered with three plays after that, forcing them to settle for a 36-yard field goal with 37 seconds before halftime.
The kick from Alejandro Mata put the Buffs up 24-14.
After a punt from Central Florida, Colorado got the ball back with a few seconds left and used it to get in position for a 46-yard field goal from Mata as time expired.
Hunter has seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown at the half. Shedeur Sanders has completed 22 of 27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
UCF keeps pace with Jefferson touchdown
ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida has struck back as it tries to keep up with Colorado. Quarterback KJ Jefferson bowled into the right corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left before halftime, helping cut Colorado’s lead to 21-14.
The play ended an eight-play 68-yard drive. Jefferson is 4-for-7 passing for 122 yards and one touchdown with one interception.
Colorado laying it on thanks to run game
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado now has scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to take a 21-7 lead with 12:21 left before halftime. This time running back Dallan Hayden, a transfer from Ohio State, burst up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown.
The Buffaloes have surged since opening the game with an interception from quarterback Shedeur Sanders. And they’ve been buoyed by a part of their offense that barely existed before Saturday – the running game.
The Buffs have 59 yards rushing on 10 carries from three different ball carriers.
Colorado take the lead behind Sanders’ play
ORLANDO, Fla. – Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders appears to be heating up after leading the Buffaloes to a 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. He has led the Buffaloes on back-to-back touchdown drives capped by two big touchdown passes – one for 23 yards to Travis Hunter and one for 47 yards to Will Sheppard.
Sanders finished the first quarter with 12-for-15 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The CU offense has been boosted by a running game that has 36 yards on seven carries.
UCF scores: RJ Harvey answers back with touchdown
ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights answered Colorado’s touchdown drive with a touchdown of their own on the very next play. Quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a first-down pass to the left side of the field, where running back RJ Harvey caught it and outraced Travis Hunter down the left sideline to score on a 75-yard touchdown catch with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The score is tied at 7-7.
Colorado Scores: Shedeur Sanders finds Travis Hunter for touchdown
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter show just got started. And now the Buffaloes are up 7-0 against Central Florida with 3:49 left in the first quarter.
Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, found Hunter near the goal line for a 23-yard touchdown pass, finishing an 80-yard, 11-play scoring drive for the Buffaloes. Freshman running back Micah Welch had two runs on the drive for 27 yards.
Hunter now has four catches for 36 yards after two possessions. Sanders is 8-for-9 passing for 35 yards and a touchdown with one interception.
Score: Colorado 7, UCF 0 with 3:49 in the first quarter
Colorado, UCF swap interceptions to start game
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two possessions, two interceptions. After the delayed kickoff, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw an interception on his first possession of the game, setting up a short field for Central Florida at the Colorado 29-yard line.
But the Buffaloes got the ball back with an interception of their own when UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson lofted a pass into the end zone that was picked off by Colorado defensive back Preston Hodge. UCF ran 10 plays before the turnover and has 24 yards of offense.
The score is still 0-0 with 4:17 left in the first quarter.
When is Colorado-UCF game?
Kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
How to watch Colorado vs. UCF game
The game will be broadcast on FOX and also is available on Fubo.
Catch College Football action this season with a Fubo subscription
Colorado-UCF kickoff delayed
ORLANDO, Fla. – Kickoff for the Colorado-Central Florida game has been delayed until at least 4:20 p.m. ET because of inclement weather and lightning in the area.
The game had been set to start at about 3:30 p.m. on Fox, then was delayed until 4:05 and then 4:20. The new kickoff time is “pending no lightning strikes within 8 miles,” according to the stadium video board.
College Football Week 5 schedule, Top 25
Virginia Tech at Miami, ESPN, 7:30 p.m. (Friday, Sept. 27)
Kentucky at No. 5 Ole Miss, ABC, Noon
No. 22 BYU at Baylor, FS1, Noon
No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Kansas State, ESPN, Noon
Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan, FOX, Noon
Fresno State at No. 23 UNLV, FS1, 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas at No. 24 Texas A&M, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
No. 18 Oklahoma at Auburn, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Louisville at No. 14 Notre Dame, Peacock, 3:30 p.m.
Wisconsin at No. 18 USC, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at No. 2 Texas, SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.
No. 19 Iowa State at Houston, FS1, 7:00 p.m.
Stanford at No. 15 Clemson, ESPN, 7:00 p.m.
No. 1 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 21 Illinois at No. 8 Penn State, NBC, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State, Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
South Alabama at No. 13 LSU, SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.
No. 7 Oregon at UCLA, FOX, 11:00 p.m.
Colorado vs. UCF odds, line
The Central Florida Knights are favorites to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024, offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024.
Odds as of Saturday.
Spread: UCF (-14)
Moneyline: UCF (-550)
Over/Under: 61.5
College football picks Week 5
USA TODAY experts have you covered on how things will go down in Week 5.
Rain, rocket fill skies near UCF stadium
ORLANDO, Fla. – A rain cloud burst above the field at FBC Mortgage Stadium about 100 minutes before kickoff, chasing players off the field and under the cover of the stadium. The downpour also chased away Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner who was strolling on the field before the game as a guest.
It’s not clear how long the rain will last, but the skies have been something to watch here lately. At 1:17 p.m. ET, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission lifted off about 35 miles east of the stadium at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch wasn’t visible from the stadium because of cloudy weather.
About an hour before game time, the stadium video board was still imploring fans to leave the seating bowl.
‘Inclement weather in the area!’ the video board said. ‘Please exit the seating bowl at this time.’
Many students still stayed seated behind the end zones.
Deion Sanders, Colorado players return home to Florida for UCF game
Coach Deion Sanders calls them his “Florida boys” – players on his Colorado football team who are Florida natives just like him.
This week many of them came home when the Buffaloes arrived in Orlando Wednesday for Saturday’s game at Central Florida.
The Colorado roster officially lists 18 players on the roster from Florida, second only to players from Texas (21) and more than even players from Colorado itself (14).
But there are more than that with connections to the state. The list doesn’t even include two-way star Travis Hunter, who is from West Palm Beach but moved to Georgia for high school. It also doesn’t include freshman starting offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who played the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but is from Washington, D.C.
The list does include wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, who returns home a hero after catching a Hail Mary touchdown pass last week as time expired in the fourth quarter of a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor. He is from Palmetto, Florida, and transferred to Colorado from Florida Atlantic, along with his brother Jaylen, a linebacker for Colorado.
Sanders is from Fort Myers, Florida, and played at Florida State. He has made it a point to recruit players from Florida and cited the state’s high number of players in the NFL. Earlier this year, he also hired Orlando native Warren Sapp to join his coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Sapp starred at the University of Miami.
This is a big recruiting weekend for Deion Sanders
UCF is expected to host dozens of recruits Saturday. But Deion Sanders suggested that many will be there to check out the Buffaloes.
“I shouldn’t say this,” Sanders said on his weekly show on CBS Colorado. “But this is the way we do it… A lot of recruits that really want to see us, they will sign up to go to the game on the behalf of an opposing team.”
Sanders said he guaranteed the Knights will “have their biggest recruiting weekend this weekend.”
“Every recruit in Florida is gonna be on that sideline,” he said.
Colorado vs. UCF predictions
ESPN: UCF has an 82% chance to win
According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the UCF Knights have an 82% chance to beat the Colorado Buffaloes in Week 5.
The Oklahoman: UCF 34, Colorado 31
Justin Martinez writes, ‘Colorado beat the odds in its overtime win over Baylor last week, getting a Hail Mary touchdown from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester at the end of regulation. I don’t think the Buffaloes will be able to repeat that magic against the Knights, though. UCF ranks first in the nation in rushing yards per game this season (375.7), and it’ll use that strength to control the time of possession and take the ball out of Sanders’ hands. This one will be closer than the odds suggest, but UCF will still get the win.’
Buffaloes Wire: UCF 34, Colorado 28
Jack Carlough writes, ‘The Knights are currently favored by about two touchdowns, which is far too generous toward UCF. However, Colorado’s special teams woes and continued offensive line problems still have me leaning toward those Knights.’
Colorado vs. UCF all-time record
Saturday will mark the first time the two programs have met and will see UCF (3-0) take on Colorado (3-1), led by its second-year coach, Deion Sanders.
Colorado depth chart
Offense
QB: Shedeur Sanders
RB: Isaiah Augustave
WR: Will Sheppard
WR: Travis Hunter
WR: Jimmy Horn Jr.
TE: Sav’ell Smalls
LT: Jordan Seaton
LG: Tyler Brown
C: Hank Zilinskas
RG: Kahlil Benson
RT: Phillip Houston
Defense
DE: BJ Green
DT: Chidozie Nwankwo
DT: Shane Cokes
DE: Samuel Okunlola
LB: Lavonta Bentley
LB: Nakhai Hill-Green
NB: Preston Hodge
CB: Travis Hunter
S: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
S: Carter Stoutmire
CB: DJ McKinney
Specialists
Punter: Mark Vassett
Placekicker: Alejando Mata
UCF depth chart
Offense
QB: KJ Jefferson
RB: RJ Harvey
WR Xavier Townsend
WR: Kobe Hudson
WR: Trent Whittemore
TE: Randy Pittman Jr.
LT: Amari Kight
LG: Adrian Medley
C: Caden Kitler
RG: Marcellus Marshall
RT: Paul Rubelt
Defense
LDE: Malachi Lawrence
NT: Lee Hunter
DT: Ricky Barber
RDE: Nyjalik Kelly
WLB: Deshawn Pace
MLB: Ethan Barr
CB: Brandon Adams
S: Sheldon Arnold
S: Quadric Bullard
CB: Mac McWilliams
NB: Braeden Marshall
Specialists
Punter: Mitch McCarthy
Placekicker: Colton Boomer
College Football Fix podcast
Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.
US LBM Coaches Poll
Nebraska and Memphis both dropped out of this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. The Georgia Bulldogs pulled ahead to take the top spot with the Texas Longhorns in a close second.
College football bowl projections
There is still plenty of time left in the season for teams to continue vying for position, with the hope of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff or at the very least a bowl game. Here are Erick Smith’s USA TODAY Sports bowl projections following the results of Week 4 games.
College football Re-Rank 1-134
Paul Myerberg provides this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134, where he ranks every team in college football, including Colorado and UCF before they meet this afternoon.
College football overreactions from Week 4
Reporter Eddie Timanus is back to offer some big-picture perspective in response to a bit of the buzz from Week 4, much of which was generated by members of one conference in particular.
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