First College Football Playoff ranking: who is in, who is out
USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Wolken breaks down the first College Football Playoff committee rankings of the season.
Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football team can still pull this off.
If they beat Texas Tech today in Lubbock, they will be one step closer to two of the biggest prizes in college football – a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
A win would mean they would at least remain in second place in the Big 12 with three regular-season games remaining.
A loss could cripple those hopes.
The Buffaloes (6-2) are tied for second in the Big 12 standings with Iowa State with a 4-1 record in league play behind BYU (5-0). They Buffs don’t play either team and could use an Iowa State loss down the stretch to clear their path.
But winning today at Tech is essential to keep them in the best position after taking last week off. They rank 20th in the race for the 12-team playoff. A win also would help the Heisman Trophy candidacy of two-way star Travis Hunter.
It doesn’t look to be easy, though. Texas Tech (6-3) has the nation’s fifth-leading rusher in yards per game: senior running back Tahj Brooks (130.9).
Follow along here for live update, news and highlights of the game:
Texas Tech kicker Gino Garcia split the uprights with a 53-yard field goal, giving the Red Raiders a 10-0 lead with 7:04 left in the first quarter. Tech has scored on its first two drives of the game, while Colorado has had the ball only once and punted.
Tech quarterback Behren Morton has completed four of six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown so far.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders had some questions earlier this week about Texas Tech’s tradition of throwing tortillas at games. In the first quarter, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter found one on the field, picked it up and appeared to tuck it in his pants.Tech leads 7-0 in the first quarter.
Texas Tech is fired up and has scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead with 13:50 left in the first quarter. The Red Raiders went 54 yards in four plays to score, capping the drive with a 17-yard touchdown catch from receiver Jalin Conyers. J’Koby Williams started things off with a 46-yard kickoff return to near midfield.
Colorado got the ball after that but punted after going only eight yards in six plays.
When is the Colorado-Texas Tech game?
Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 9 from Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
How to watch Colorado-Texas Tech game
The game will be broadcast on Fox and also is available on Fubo.
Watch Colorado vs. Texas Tech on Fubo
Can Travis Hunter win the Heisman Trophy?
Another big game today by him on offense, defense or both would further propel his candidacy for the award. He currently is the odds-on favorite to win it, according to BetMGM, ahead of Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
Hunter missed the second halves of two games this season with a shoulder injury but an off week last week helped him heal. His attendance on two national pregame shows last week on Fox and ESPN also boosted his profile.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he even would vote for Hunter to the win the trophy over Sanders’ quarterback son Shedeur, who also is a Heisman candidate.
“Travis gets my vote,” Sanders said on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show Saturday in Lubbock.
Shilo Sanders court hearing
Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, son of coach Deion Sanders, had an important hearing in his bankruptcy case Thursday in Denver. He was not required to attend and did not as he prepared for Saturday’s game at Tech. His attorneys made arguments on his behalf as he tries get out of more than $11 million in debt related to an incident in 2015.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
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