Colorado’s 2025 season opener against Georgia Tech was supposed to mark a new chapter after the departures of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders to the NFL. Instead, the night ended with more questions surrounding head coach Deion Sanders and his late-game decision-making in a 27-20 loss at Folsom Field.
The Buffaloes had a chance to mount a game-tying drive in the final minute, starting from their own 25-yard line with 1:07 left on the clock and two timeouts. What followed was a puzzling sequence that left fans frustrated. On the first play, quarterback Kaidon Salter dumped the ball off to running back Micah Welch, who was tackled inbounds for a 2-yard loss. Rather than calling a timeout, Sanders let the clock run, and Colorado didn’t snap the ball again until only 45 seconds remained.
Salter connected with receiver Hykeem Williams for 11 yards on the next play, nearly converting a first down. Again, Sanders refrained from stopping the clock, allowing 11 more seconds to vanish before the next snap. Salter’s ensuing 5-yard scramble gave Colorado a fresh set of downs at its own 39-yard line, but the clock had already dwindled to 18 seconds. By the time the Buffs crossed midfield, just three ticks remained. Their final chance fell incomplete.
Sanders defended his strategy afterward, insisting that using timeouts wasn’t necessary because his offense reached the sideline and moved the chains. His account didn’t reflect the in-game reality, where valuable seconds melted away.
“I think we got out of bounds a couple of times,” Sanders said. “We didn’t have to take them. That’s what transpired. We got out of bounds I think on both sidelines. That’s what happened. After the first, I think we got a good play and we caught the ball, I think, for nine yards. We had one yard to go, so if you get the first down, the clock stops. It don’t make sense to really use your timeout in that sense.”
The optics were made worse by the fact that Colorado finished the game with both timeouts unused.
“We were just really trying to preserve them for when we needed them,” Sanders said. “I don’t want to go home with timeouts. They don’t do me no good. But you’ve got to be strategic, as well. Just burning timeouts just to burn them just so you guys won’t say nothing, that don’t make sense at all.”
The clock management issues overshadowed other problems, including the Buffs’ leaky defense, which surrendered 320 rushing yards and allowed a 45-yard touchdown run by Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King in the final minutes. Salter showed flashes but admitted afterward he could have leaned on his legs more effectively.
For Deion Sanders, the loss was a blunt reminder in tight games, clock management can make the difference between a last shot at victory and a wasted opportunity.
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