Shedeur Sanders stats today: Colorado QB impresses in upset over heavily favored UCF

Colorado entered Week 5 coming off back-to-back wins, including a thrilling finish against Baylor last Saturday, but many believed UCF would give the Buffaloes their “Welcome to the Big 12” moment. Shedeur Sanders believed otherwise.

Sanders came out firing against the Knights, leading Colorado to a 13-point halftime lead despite the Buffaloes being nearly two-touchdown underdogs at the start of the day. The Buffs looked just as good in the second half, leaving with a 48-21 win.

Confidence for Colorado might be even higher than it was a year ago, when the program announced itself on the national stage by winning its first three games. The Buffaloes gave it everything they had against Baylor in Week 4 and won after a last-minute Hail Mary forced overtime . Sanders threw for 341 yards in that game despite taking eight sacks.

A tough portion of the schedule is approaching for Colorado, but Sanders and the offense are looking to prove they are well-equipped to handle what the Big 12 throws their way.

Here's a look at Sanders' stats from his performance against UCF on Saturday.

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Shedeur Sanders stats today

• Comp.: 28-35 (80%)
• Pass yards: 280
• Pass TD: 3
• INT: 1
• Sacks: 2

Sanders started out with a strong first half, in which he was dominant with the exception of the game's opening drive.

The day started on a sour note for Colorado when Sanders threw two passes for a total loss of 10 yards and followed them up with an interception on the first drive of the contest. From that point on, though, Sanders went 20-of-24 for 235 yards and two touchdowns before halftime.

Sanders hit Travis Hunter and Will Sheppard for touchdowns in the first quarter, with Sheppard hauling in a beautiful 47-yard pass from his quarterback, and the offense kept moving in the second quarter. Sanders didn't often try to do too much, and that resulted in the Buffaloes tacking two field goals onto their lead in the final minute of the half.

One of those field goals came on the heels of a heads-up play by Sanders, who took what look like a doomed play and escaped pressure to find Travis Hunter on third-and-6.

It was a much quieter second half for Sanders, as his father and OC Pat Shurmur wisely committed to the running game with the lead safely in hand. Sanders did add one more touchdown to his total, finding LaJohntay Wester to extend Colorado's lead to 20 late in the third quarter. The Buffaloes ultimately emerged with a 48-21 victory.

Sanders has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three consecutive games, including last week's miraculous win over Baylor; he has 14 touchdown passes through five games.

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Shedeur Sanders highlights vs. UCF