Thursday night of the official opening weekend of the 2024 college football season delivered what will surely be one of the wildest interceptions of the year.
Colorado QB Shedeur [Sanders was picked off by North Dakota State’s Nick Kubitz in the end zone during the third quarter Thursday night after The ball somehow bounced off the back of cornerback Anthony Chideme-Alfaro’s left leg.](https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-colorado-qb-shedeur-sanders-throws-bizarre-interception-that-bounces-off-cornerbacks-leg-020733698.html)
While we got a four-game appetizer in Week 0 (including a stunning top-10 upset), the college football season began in full on Thursday night as Week 1 got underway with a few intriguing games, headlined by FCS powerhouse North Dakota State heading to Boulder to take on the much-hyped Colorado Buffaloes.
It figured to be a competitive game, but Colorado was expected to have an edge with their athleticism at the skill positions. Early on that played out, as the Buffs took a 14-10 lead on a pair of touchdown passes from Shedeur Sanders to Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr., who both ran away from the Bison defense on their way to the end zone. However, as the first half dragged on, the Colorado offense couldn’t continue creating explosive plays and the NDSU offense leaned on the Buffaloes defense, taking a 20-17 lead into halftime. That put some real pressure on the Buffaloes to figure some things out coming out of halftime and find pay dirt again.
The Buffaloes marched down the field early in the third quarter, but saw disaster strike on the goal line on a freak play when a Sanders pass hit a DB’s foot, popped up into the air, and got picked off by the Bison. It’s a wildly unlucky play, but was also just generally not a very good pass from Sanders to end up hitting the defender’s foot. Sanders would bounce back quickly, though, as the Buffaloes were able to get a rare quick stop on defense and Shedeur was able to find Hunter for a go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing drive.
The Bizarre Interception
The Buffaloes received the second-half kickoff and while they were trailing 20-17 to open the third quarter, they immediately drove deep into North Dakota State territory, thanks to this long completion from Sanders to Hunter:
As noted on the broadcast Hunter might have gotten away with a little ... let’s just say creative use of his left arm, but the completion stood and the Buffaloes were deep in Bison territory.
However, they were turned away, on an interception you do not exactly see every day:
With Colorado facing 3rd and goal Sanders looked to the three-receiver side of the formation, throwing to the left on a quick route concept. But the pass deflected off the leg of a North Dakota State defender — who was lying on their stomach into the end zone — and into the waiting arms of Bison linebacker Nick Kubitz.
The Aftermath
Colorado managed to get a stop on their next possession, and Sanders and Hunter combined for their second touchdown connection of the game on their ensuing drive to take a 24-20 lead.
The Buffaloes would survive and get a 31-26 win after another fluky catch to end the game fell just short of the goal line. Tyler Terhark caught a Hail Mary pass from Cam Miller, but he was four yards short of the end zone.
What The World Is Talking About
The play sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans and analysts sharing their disbelief and amusement at the unusual interception.
Some questioned whether Sanders should have thrown the ball, with some saying it was “generally not a very good pass” that ended up hitting the defender’s foot.
Others focused on the incredible awareness of the North Dakota State defender, who was able to snag the ball after it bounced off his teammate’s leg.
Despite the strange interception, Sanders and the Buffaloes offense were able to bounce back and secure a victory, showcasing the potential that this team holds for the upcoming season.
