Colorado vs. North Dakota State final score, results: Travis Hunter shines as Buffaloes survive scare from Bison

Plenty of questions surrounded Colorado entering Thursday's season-opener against North Dakota State, but one thing was clear: If the Buffaloes are going to win games this season, they're going to have to do it with their offense.

That's exactly what they did in a 31-26 win against the Bison.

North Dakota State and Colorado traded blows in the first half, with Shedeur Sanders throwing for more than 250 yards through the first two quarters. But the mighty Bison carving up the Buffaloes' defense for a halftime lead.

It looked like it might not be Colorado's night when a pass from Sanders deflected off of a player's calf and into the arms of a North Dakota State defender for an interception early in the third quarter. The Buffaloes' defense, though, managed a quick stop, setting up the offense to take a lead that would hold up the rest of the way.

The Bison made it interesting down the stretch, cutting an 11-point deficit to five and giving themselves a chance in the final minute of play. But Cam Miller's Hail Mary pass was caught four yards short of the end zone.

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Miller had a terrific night, throwing for 277 yards and rushing for 81 yards along with two touchdowns, but it was Colorado's stars who put up the gaudy numbers. Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns, while Travis Hunter posted 132 yards and three touchdowns — the latter of which came on an unbelievable catch.

Sanders and Hunter weren't alone, as Jimmy Horn Jr. exploded for 198 yards and a touchdown with the help of a massive first half.

Colorado's defense likely needs to make adjustments for the program to have the season it's looking for, but it's clear the Buffaloes' offense is going to be must-see TV again when Deion Sanders and co. travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska in Week 2.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Colorado's Week 1 matchup with North Dakota State. Check out all of the moments you might have missed below.

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Colorado vs. North Dakota State final score

Colorado vs. North Dakota State results, highlights from Week 1 game

(All times Eastern)

11:20 p.m. — Colorado holds on for the 31-26 victory after Cam Miller's Hail Mary pass is caught well short of the end zone. The Buffaloes didn't come in and make a statement, necessarily, but they did play much better football in the second half and can take that momentum into a matchup Nebraska in nine days.

11:20 p.m. — It's just about Hail Mary time for North Dakota State.

11:19 p.m. — Now Braylon Henderson brings NDSU close to midfield, but officials start the clock pretty early after the first down and the Bison have just nine seconds to work with.

11:18 p.m. — Bryce Lance gets 20 of those 92 yards on a play that takes eight seconds off the clock.

11:17 p.m. — The Bison need 92 yards in 31 seconds.

11:15 p.m. — It's 4th & 3 for the Buffaloes, who will punt with 38 seconds remaining. The decision to keep passing the ball was a questionable one by Colorado and OC Pat Shurmur.

11:14 p.m. — NDSU is still alive with Colorado facing 3rd & 10 and still 80 seconds on the clock.

11:11 p.m. — Sanders keeps a play alive and throws downfield, where the NDSU defender committed clear pass interference. Can't do that there. Colorado will gladly take it.

Colorado 31, North Dakota State 26

11:01 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — North Dakota State stays alive! No defender was anywhere near Miller as he ran 20 yards into the end zone with 2:19 remaining. The two-point try is no good, however. The Bison would need a touchdown if they got the ball back.

10:59 p.m. — NDSU keeps Cole Payton on the field for the next step and sees him get sacked for a 5-yard loss. That's the last thing the Bison needed, aside from a turnover.

10:58 p.m. — North Dakota State easily picks up the first down to keep hope alive.

10:56 p.m. — The Bison have no choice but to go for it on 4th & 1 as the clock keeps ticking down. They need two scores.

10:55 p.m. — NDSU picks up an early first down but has a huge 3rd & 2 coming here.

10:52 p.m. — Needless to say, North Dakota State needs to score here with under eight minutes remaining. The Bison have been shut out in the second half.

Colorado 31, North Dakota State 20

10:49 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Wow, a ridiculous catch by Travis Hunter gives Colorado a two-possession lead. He is playing like a Heisman contender with 132 yards and three touchdowns tonight. Buffaloes lead, 31-20.

10:43 p.m. — Sanders' decision-making is excellent with two defenders in his faces as he quickly finds Hunter for the first down. A massive conversion.

10:41 p.m. — Jimmy Horn Jr. has had a great night, but he has a bad drop on second down that forces Colorado into a third-and-long.

10:35 p.m. — The run game is suddenly becoming much more of a factor as the Buffaloes try to run the clock down and avoid costly mistakes, but it hasn't been very efficient with only 42 yards excluding Sanders.

10:32 p.m. — Sanders is up to 400 yards on the night, and Colorado is past midfield after a nice throw to Will Sheppard.

End of third quarter: Colorado 24, North Dakota State 20

10:27 p.m. — Colorado's offense has slowed the pace a bit on this drive, inching to a first down to get things started but still sitting 20 yards from midfield.

10:21 p.m. — Miller avoids a disastrous sack but can't pick up the first down. North Dakota State will punt, putting the ball back in Shedeur Sanders' hands.

10:19 p.m. — The Bison face a key third down just past midfield as they try to answer Colorado's latest touchdown drive.

10:17 p.m. — Miller is using his legs to get North Dakota State's offense back on track, rushing for a pair of first downs.

Colorado 24, North Dakota State 20

10:09 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Hunter scores his second touchdown of the night to give Colorado the lead! Sanders is up to 375 yards and three touchdowns, but most importantly, the Buffaloes are in front.

10:06 p.m. — Another big play from Colorado: this time, Sanders finds Horn for 41 yards. Horn is up to 191 yards and a touchdown for the Buffaloes.

10:03 p.m. — Colorado registers a much-needed sack of Cam Miller to force a quick punt. That's the first sack of the game for the Buffaloes defense.

10:00 p.m. INTERCEPTION — Woah! Sanders' pass bounces off the calf of a North Dakota State defender, back up into the air, and into the arms of Nick Kubitz. The Bison kill Colorado's drive with a little stroke of luck.

9:58 p.m. — Shedeur Sanders just eclipsed 300 yards with a 40-yard strike to Travis Hunter. Just like that, Colorado has 1st & Goal four plays into the half.

North Dakota State 20, Colorado 17

9:34 p.m. FIELD GOAL — It's good, and Colorado trails 20-17 entering halftime. Sanders has 254 yards through a half. The Buffaloes will get the ball to start the second half.

9:32 p.m. — Wow, another big completion gives Colorado 1st & Goal. There are only two seconds left, so a field goal is coming, but what an effort by this Buffaloes offense in the final minute of the half.

9:31 p.m. — Now Sanders fires a dart to LaJohntay Wester for 26 yards, putting the Buffaloes in position to enter field goal range with nine seconds remaining. They still have work to do.

9:29 p.m. — Colorado is moving, but not fast enough. The Buffaloes are still on their side of the field with under 20 seconds remaining in the half.

9:26 p.m. — The Buffaloes get a stop, but a great punt leaves them needing to nearly go the distance in less than a minute to find the end zone.

9:24 p.m. — North Dakota State is trying to move quickly past the new two-minute warning, but the Bison are facing 3rd & 2 on their own side of the field as Colorado tries to get another opportunity before the half.

9:16 p.m. — Sanders is sacked and Colorado will punt. Sacks cost Sanders last season...

9:15 p.m. — Hunter makes an impressive one-handed grab...out of bounds. It's quickly 3rd & 4 for Colorado.

9:13 p.m. — A bit of a time of possession disparity so far...

North Dakota State 20, Colorado 14

9:09 p.m. FIELD GOAL — The Bison make up enough yardage to get comfortably into field goal range and extend their lead. It's 20-14, but Colorado can call it a win for holding NDSU to a field goal.

9:07 p.m. — It's 1st & Goal all the way from the 24 after back-to-back penalties by North Dakota State.

9:05 p.m. — Miller's pass is incomplete...but Shilo Sanders is called for a late hit to give the Bison a fresh set of downs.

9:04 p.m. — Here comes a huge 3rd & 6 for the Colorado defense, which is begging for a break against NDSU's offense.

9:00 p.m. — Shedeur Sanders is checked out by trainers on the field with what appears to be a cramp, but it looks more like a stall tactic than an actual cramp.

8:59 p.m. — What a stop by the Bison on fourth down! NDSU is about to get the ball back at Colorado's 35-yard line with a chance to make this a two-possession game.

8:58 p.m. — North Dakota State's defense got some time to sit during that drive, and it seems to be benefiting them: Colorado is quickly brought to fourth-and-short and appears to be going for it.

North Dakota State 17, Colorado 14

8:55 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — The Bison are back in front! Miller runs it in himself and now has 150 yards of offense plus two touchdowns. What an offensive explosion in this first half.

8:52 p.m. — North Dakota State easily converts with a 16-yard catch by RaJa Nelson. We could see ANOTHER lead change here.

8:49 p.m. — An offsides penalty by Colorado makes a 3rd & 7 and more manageable 3rd & 2 for NDSU. If the Bison don't convert, this might be a situation where they go for it considering the way their defense is struggling.

End of first quarter: Colorado 14, North Dakota State 10

8:42 p.m. — A great play by Miller to escape pressure, recollect himself, and hit Stoffel for a first down to keep the drive alive.

8:41 p.m. — North Dakota State is already past midfield, this time after a personal foul call against Colorado added 15 yards to a 14-yard run by Miller. The Bison QB has flashed mobility early in this game.

Colorado 14, North Dakota State 10

8:35 p.m. TOUCDOWN — That was quick! On the second play of the drive, Sanders finds Jimmy Horn Jr. for 70 yards and a touchdown. North Dakota State's defense just didn't have enough guys there. Colorado is back in front.

North Dakota State 10, Colorado 7

8:27 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Stoffel hauls in the short pass from Miller for the touchdown! The Buffaloes had NDSU down to 3rd & Goal, but Miller remained composed and is now up to 117 yards in the first quarter.

8:26 p.m. — Braylon Henderson goes for 27 yards and has the Bison at 1st & Goal from the 6! Colorado's defense has had some bumps early in this game.

8:24 p.m. — North Dakota State is past midfield now and gains even more ground on a 16-yard catch by Joe Stoffel.

8:22 p.m. — North Dakota State's offense quickly regains momentum, and it's Bryce Lance, brother of Trey, who runs for eight yards early in this Bison drive.

Colorado 7, North Dakota State 3

8:17 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Sanders hits Travis Hunter for 41 yards and the score! The two-way star wastes no time showcasing his ridiculous athleticism, escaping a tackle and running right into the end zone. Colorado leads 7-3.

8:16 p.m. — Shedeur Sanders has completed his first three passes, including a strike to LaJohntay Wester that ended up going for 14 yards.

8:15 p.m. — Colorado coverts an early 3rd & 4 with a nice run up the middle by Charlie Offerdahl.

North Dakota State 3, Colorado 0

8:11 p.m. FIELD GOAL — The Bison knock it through and strike first, though they would have loved to take advantage of that opportunity after the 48-yard catch-and-run by Marshall.

8:10 p.m. — Colorado's defense, under new leadership this season, quickly adjusts and limits NDSU's running game to force a field goal try.

8:08 p.m. — TK Marshall finds a hole in the Colorado defense! Cam Miller finds his man for 48 yards to put the Bison at the Buffaloes' 24-yard line.

8:06 p.m. — Year 2 of the Deion Sanders era is underway. North Dakota State will start with the ball.

7:52 p.m. — This one-ups the Deion Sanders boombox.

7:48 p.m. — Yes, that's a Deion Sanders boombox.

7:23 p.m. — Deion Sanders just spoke to the ESPN crew live from Folsom Field, and to no one's surprise, he's confident about his team. Sanders also touched on what it's like to have his son at QB and said he's a coach, not necessarily a father, when the game starts.

7:05 p.m. — Travis Hunter and co. are ready to go.

6:40 p.m. — Colorado is favored by just under 10 points heading into tonight's matchup. That might not be where they want to be against FCS competition, but it's a chance to prove some doubters wrong with a big win.

How to watch Colorado vs. North Dakota State

• Date: Thursday, Aug. 29
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.
• Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

Colorado vs. North Dakota State will air on ESPN on Thursday. The network will broadcast the game from Folsom Field in Boulder beginning at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time).

Viewers seeking a streaming option can turn to the ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users .