Arizona outlasts Colorado on walk-off FG as bowl eligibility looks dire for Deion Sanders, Buffaloes

Coach Prime and the Buffs now need to win two on the road to finish the regular season to have any hope for the postseason

No. 21 Arizona was pushed by Colorado but hung in just enough and came up with big plays late to escape Boulder, Colorado, with a 34-31 win to improve to 7-3 overall. The Wildcats never led until the 24-yard field goal from Tyler Loop as time expired completed a well-executed game-winning drive. Arizona drove 67 yards in 11 plays in total, using the final snaps to set up a short field goal attempt in the middle of the field and wind the clock all the way to the final seconds. It was a disappointing end for a Colorado team playing its final game at home, but reflective of the resilience that Arizona -- and its quarterback Noah Fifita -- have shown in this midseason turnaround. 

Arizona has won four straight games, with three of the wins coming against teams that were ranked at the time. While the odds are long with two conference losses already, the Wildcats are still mathematically in the mix for the Pac-12 Championship Game. For Colorado, the loss drops the Buffs to 4-6 overall with the two remaining games coming at Washington State and at Utah. The opportunity for bowl eligibility seemed much more likely when Colorado took the lead on four different occasions against Arizona, but a scoreless fourth quarter now has left the only option for the postseason being back-to-back road wins to close the season. 

• Shedeur Sanders completed 22 of 35 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 42 rushing yards and and another score on the ground
• Dynamic duo: Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita targeted wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan 15 times, and they connected for nine receptions, 107 yards and a touchdown. Fifita had a rough start completing just 8 of his first 18 passes but improved in the second half and helped the Wildcats close with a 10-0 fourth quarter. 
• Arizona hosts Utah next week in the home finale before finishing the season at rival Arizona State

[Nov 11, 2023 at 4:38 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Colorado leads heading into the 4th 

End 3Q: Colorado 31, Arizona 24

No. 21 Arizona is at risk of losing its ranked status as Colorado holds a 31-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter in Boulder. Shedeur Sanders has three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and done a great job keeping plays alive for a Colorado offense that has cashed in on all of its scoring opportunities. The Buffs special teams has been a huge factor in creating a field position advantage, both pinning Arizona deep in its own territory and getting some solid returns to set up short fields.