Ad Disclosure
Shedeur Sanders catches flak for timely cramp vs. North Dakota State
By Sean Labar
Published:
Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado offense were on fire to start the season opener against North Dakota State, but the Buffaloes cooled down considerably in the second quarter. And after one failed fourth-down attempt, it appeared as if the star QB simulated a cramp so the defense had time to get on the field against the Bison.
While no one outside of Sanders could definitively say whether the move was strategic or not, the Colorado QB immediately took heat on social media for falling to the ground and calling for trainers.
Colorado had just been stuffed on fourth down and turned the ball over to the Bison. NDSU had its offense lined up and ready to snap the ball while Colorado had just 1 defender on the field — Travis Hunter. Sanders dropping to the ground forced an injury timeout and allowed the Buffs to reset.
🚨WILD… Shedeur Sanders just fake a cramp causing an injury time out so the Colorado defense could get on the field, after a failed 4th down attempt
💀💀💀
pic.twitter.com/khZ7dkPoX7— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 30, 2024
Did Shedeur Sanders fake a cramp to avoid the penalty? 🤔💀
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/HTt9YDWAt4
— On3 (@On3sports) August 30, 2024
Shedeur Sanders fakes a cramp causing an injury time out so the Colorado defense could get on the field, after a failed 4th down attempt
Meanwhile everyone complains when soccer players fall and say football players would never…
— George Jarjour (@GeorgeOnTap) August 30, 2024
The Buffaloes went into the half trailing 20-17, but Sanders put up a stat line that shows why he’s a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and projected first-round draft pick next year.
Most of Colorado’s offensive success came in the first quarter, excluding a long drive in the final seconds of the second quarter that resulted in a field goal for the Buffs.
The Colorado QB finished the first half with 254 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 12-of-15 attempts.
If Deion Sanders’ team is going to knock off the Bison and have any chance at a bowl game in 2024, the Buffaloes’ defense must find a way to tighten up. The Bison dominated time of possession in the first half, keeping their offense on the field for nearly 22 minutes of the 30-minute half.
North Dakota State was 4-of-8 on third down and had a balanced offensive attack in the first half with 162 passing yards and 82 rushing yards.
Sean Labar is an SEC football contributor for Saturday Down South.
