Colorado State Stars Issue Strong Warning to Shedeur Sanders, Buffaloes Ahead of Rivalry Matchup

Nearly a year ago, coaches Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes and Jay Norvell of the Colorado State Rams exchanged heated words before a tense double-overtime game that the Buffaloes ultimately won.

Now, with a rematch at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado imminent, Colorado State players have made provocative statements.

In a recent interview before the rivalry game, Rams quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton expressed their team's determination to seek "revenge" against the Buffaloes.

"We owe them one,” Horton said. "And that’s something that’s been sitting on everybody’s mind since we came back from break. We owe them one and we walked away from that game as we kind of left it all on the field.

"I don’t feel like we left it all on the field, because we should have murdered them guys. They came out with that attitude as they were on top of the world, and this ain’t no Cinderella story. We’re coming for revenge."

Fowler-Nicolosi, who threw two of his three touchdown passes to Horton in previous year's defeat, escalated the situation by criticizing the hype generated by Colorado on social media.

"They came out with that attitude and thought it was gonna be a cakewalk," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "They saw the reports, 27 and a half points, or whatever it was, and they got a rude, rude awakening real quick.

"And I think it goes to show that the hype, the media train, all that — it only gets you so far at the end of the day. At the end of the day, you have to line up 11 guys against our 11 guys, and we’ll find out who wants it more. We’ll see how far Instagram followers gets them."

As of Thursday, Colorado is favored by only seven points, a significant shift from last year's expectations.

Last year, the anticipation for the game intensified when Norvell criticized Sanders' signature sunglasses, which he often wore during media interactions.

"When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and sunglasses off," Norvell remarked at the time. In response, Sanders stated that the Rams had turned the game into a "personal" matter.

It appears that two of Colorado State's top players have repeated their notable actions. Kickoff is set for Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Related: Cameras Reveal Shilo Sanders’ Untimely Trash Talk to Nebraska Players Before Blowout Loss