College football rankings: Resilient Colorado moves up after miracle finish

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RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

Following Colorado’s 43-35 double overtime win against Colorado State, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, summed up his team’s performance in one word: Resilience.

They had to have it. After entering the game as a 22-point favorite, the Buffs were down 11 in the fourth quarter and without their best playmaker on either side other ball in Travis Hunter, who was forced to leave the game due to injury.

[Travis Hunter taken to hospital after roughness penalty knocks him out of the game]

With 2:06 to play, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders took the field with his team trailing by eight and started a drive from his own 2-yard line. And then Sanders did what winners do in winning time.

He drove the Buffs 98 yards in seven plays and stood up against immense pressure on a two-point conversion attempt to tie the game and force OT — where he did it again.

Sanders finished the day 38-for-47 passing for 348 yards with four TDs and an interception. He is the most important player at Colorado, and that can be said definitively now as he willed the Buffs back without Hunter.

The Buffaloes are 3-0 with everything in their season left to play for.

Here are my Top 25 rankings after Week 3.

1. Georgia (3-0)

Defeated South Carolina, 24-14

The Bulldogs looked vulnerable for the first time this season and needed to overcome a 14-3 deficit in the second half at home to knock off the Gamecocks.

Daijun Edwards rushed for 120 yards on 18 carries in his season debut.

A massive wakeup call for No. 1 Georgia

2. Michigan (3-0)

Defeated Bowling Green, 31-6

Despite three interceptions thrown by Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, the Wolverines completed their nonconference slate 3-0 without head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline.

3. Ohio State (3-0)

Defeated Western Kentucky, 63-10

The Buckeye defense rock-bottomed the Hilltoppers with seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two INTs and two defensive TDs in the win.

Does Ohio State have a LEGIT defense under Jim Knowles?

4. USC (3-0)

Idle.

Caleb Williams and the Trojans play Arizona State on Sept. 23.

5. Texas (3-0)

Defeated Wyoming, 31-10

Texas RB Jonathon Brooks rushed for 164 yards in the win against the Cowboys.

6. Penn State (3-0)

Defeated Illinois, 30-13

The Nittany Lion defense forced five turnovers, including four INTs in their win in Champaign.

Here’s what we learned from Penn State’s win over Illinois

7. Florida State (3-0)

Defeated Boston College, 31-29

The Seminoles held a 31-10 lead until the fourth quarter, but barely escaped with the win despite BC committing a school–record 18 penalties for 131 yards.

8. Washington (3-0)

Defeated Michigan State, 41-7

Michael Penix Jr. threw for 473 yards with four TDs in the Huskies’ win against the Spartans.

9. Utah (3-0)

Defeated Weber State, 31-7

The Utes rushed for 231 yards and moved to 3-0 despite playing without the services of QB Cam Rising for a third straight game.

10. Oregon (3-0)

Defeated Hawaii, 55-10

The Ducks averaged 58 points in their first three games. Next up? Deion Sanders and Colorado come to Eugene.

11. LSU (2-1)

Defeated Mississippi State, 41-14

Wideout Malik Nabers had 13 catches for 239 yards with two TDs.

12. Notre Dame (4-0)

Defeated Central Michigan, 41-17

ND QB Sam Hartman threw for 330 yards and RB Audric Estime rushed for 176 yards in the win.

13. Alabama (2-1)

Defeated South Florida, 17-3

Alabama quarterbacks Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson combined to complete 10 of 23 passes for 107 yards and were sacked five times in an ugly win in Tampa.

Is Ty Simpson or Jalen Milroe the answer for Alabama’s QB woes?

14. Colorado (3-0)

Defeated Colorado State, 43-35, 2OT

Playing without injured star Travis Hunter, the Buffs erase a 28-17 deficit in the fourth quarter, winning in overtime to remain unbeaten heading into next week’s matchup at Oregon.