Deion Sanders has questioned his Colorado players’ passion after a miracle victory over Baylor, telling the Buffaloes they have their work cut out against 3-0 UCF on Saturday.

Sanders’ son, Shedeur, found wideout LaJohntay Wester in the endzone with a Hail Mary as time expired to tie the game against Baylor at Folsom Field on Saturday before Travis Hunter sealed the most improbable of wins with a forced fumble in overtime after running back Micah Welch put the Buffs in front.

Colorado escaped with a 38-31 victory to improve to 3-1 on the season before the trip to Orlando this weekend. Sanders’ team is a big underdog against the Knights, who have the best rushing offense in the country – averaging an enormous 375.7 yards per game on the ground – and are favored by 14 points with the oddsmakers.

Sanders knows his team got lucky against Baylor and he has demanded his players show more at Bright House Networks Stadium. He was not impressed by their reaction to the victory over the Bears.

“We got blessed with the outcome of that game. We really got blessed. You guys are out here like you dominated,” Sanders said. “When are you going to want this for you? Not for me, for you? For your family? For your siblings? When are you going to want it?

“I look forward to the contest. They run the ball extremely well, they get to the ball on defense, pretty much a veteran when you are looking at several seniors on each side of the ball so that’s a tremendous amount of experience.

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders #2 during first half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona

Deion Sanders has complete faith in his son, Shedeur ( 

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Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“They don’t make a lot of mistakes, big quarterback, strong guy that can not only throw the ball but he could run, as well. We got our work cut out for us.”

Colorado’s defense has significantly improved in Sanders’ second season in charge at Boulder, particularly in the second half with just 19 total points given up across three games. But he knows they face a much bigger challenge against the Knights’ rushing attack – led by dual-threat QB KJ Jefferson.

“We gotta load the box up and pray,” Sanders admitted. “I feel good about our scheme, I feel good about what I saw at practice today. I feel good about what we’ve been accomplishing versus the run defensively.”

Sanders, however, is not worried about his son’s performance. The projected 2025 first-round pick is fourth in the nation in passing yards and has 11 touchdowns versus two interceptions – one of which being a brutal goalline pick-six in the defeat to Nebraska.

Only one quarterback in the FBS – Cal’s Fernando Mendoza – has taken more sacks than the 15 worn by the Buffs’ signal caller this season, but his father believes he gives Colorado a chance of winning any game.

“He’s been consistently Shedeur, except for one pass,” Deion added. “The thing about him, everyone in here, but maybe a couple of y’all, you know when the ball is in his hands, we got a chance. Everybody here knows that, right? Except for a couple haters. You know that.”