The mission for Colorado in the final month of the season is simple: win.

Saturday wasn’t always pretty, but the Buffs got the job done pretty comfortably in the end, pulling away from Utah and holding off a spirited comeback attempt in the second half to secure a 49-24 win.

The Buffs (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) slept in for their first early morning kickoff of the season. Just like last week, Colorado got off to a very slow start and allowed the Utes (4-6, 1-6) to jump out to an early lead.

On the first play of the game, CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders was picked off by star Utes linebacker Lander Barton, giving Utah the ball in the red zone almost immediately. The Buffs' defense stood tall like it has all season under pressure and held Utah to a field goal.

On Colorado's next drive, the tide turned. After the Buffs were backed up to third-and-23, Shedeur Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester for 18 yards. The Buffs went for it on fourth down and Sanders launched a deep ball to Will Sheppard for a 40-yard score, putting Colorado in front.

From there, the Buffs defense and special teams took the wheel and made play after play to put the Utes away. LaJohntay Wester took the next Utah punt 76 yards to the house for a touchdown. On the Utes’ ensuing drive, Jaylen Wester got a piece of a punt, setting the Buffs up with good field position.

On the drive after that, cornerback Colton Hood made an excellent play on an errant throw from Isaac Wilson. With the receiver adjusting to the ball, Hood swatted the ball back to Travis Hunter for an interception.

Colorado’s offense failed to capitalize on the turnover, adding to a string of very sluggish play and poor execution with three consecutive punts and a fumbled snap that was recovered by Utah. However, Colorado was able to kick it into gear at the end of the half. After an incredible catch by Hunter over two defenders, Sanders found Sheppard for his second touchdown of the half to give the Buffs a two-score lead.

After halftime, the Buffs had no interest in taking their foot off the gas. The Colorado defense started the half off with a Nikhai Hill-Green interception, and then Isaiah Augustave scampered 37 yards for a touchdown on the very next play to give CU a 28-9 lead.

The Utah passing game finally found some life in the third quarter, and Hunter was on the wrong end of it. With the Utes desperately trying to get back in the game, Wilson found USC transfer Dorian Singer for a 40-yard score to cut the deficit back to 12. That was the first touchdown allowed by Hunter in coverage all season.

That momentum was short-lived for the Utes. Colorado didn’t wait long into the fourth quarter to put the final dagger in Utah’s hopes, as Sanders beautifully layered a throw up the seam to Drelon Miller. The CU receiver outran one defender and dragged another into the end zone for his second career touchdown to put the Buffs up 35-16.

Utah drove down the field to cut the lead back to two scores before sending a jolt into the Folsom Field crowd with a forced fumble on Sheppard. However, the comeback attempt was short-lived, as Isaac Wilson threw his third interception of the day to end the Utes’ hopes for good.

The Buffs ended the day with a positive boost, as former walk-on Charlie Offerdahl punched in his first career touchdown from 4 yards out.

Colorado improves to 8-2 with the win and is now two victories away from a trip to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship Game. The Buffs will continue their quest next Saturday when they head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on Kansas.

First quarter

UTAH 10:08: Cole Becker 32-yard field goal, UTAH 3-0

COL 7:51: Will Sheppard 40-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 7-3

COL 5:49: LaJohntay Wester 76-yard punt return (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 14-3

Second quarter

UTAH 5:35: Cole Becker 34-yard field goal, COL 14-6

COL 0:49: Will Sheppard 6-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 21-6

UTAH 0:00: Cole Becker 47-yard field goal, COL 21-9

Third quarter

COL 11:43: Isaiah Augustave 37-yard run (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 28-9

UTAH 6:10: Dorian Singer 40-yard pass from Isaac Wilson (Cole Becker kick), COL 28-16

Fourth quarter

COL 13:58: Drelon Miller 47-yard pass from Shedeur Sanders (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 35-16

UTAH 8:34: Caleb Lohner 3-yard pass from Isaac Wilson (2-point conversion successful), COL 35-24

COL 4:32: Charlie Offerdahl 4-yard run (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 42-24

COL 2:22: Travis Hunter 5-yard run (Alejandro Mata kick), COL 49-24

The Buffs won this one because of their ability to make splash plays on both sides of the ball. Colorado scored three offensive touchdowns of 35 or more yards in this one, and LaJohntay Wester added a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown, which helped it put up plenty of points even on a day where they struggled down-to-down. Defensively, Colorado forced four turnovers and sacked Isaac Wilson four times to consistently set the offense up in good positions.

The turning point in this one came early. After a very sleepy start that included a terrible Shedeur Sanders interception on the first play of the game, Colorado looked like it was about to punt the ball back to the Utes in a 3-0 ballgame. However, Sanders found LaJohntay Wester on third-and-23 to set up a manageable fourth down attempt, and then the star quarterback took advantage of a free play to put the Buffs in front.

Usually this spot is reserved for a touchdown or a big run or a great throw by Shedeur Sanders. However, today that’s not the case. Near the end of the first half, Travis Hunter set up a touchdown that helped Colorado pull away from the Utes with one of the best catches you’ll see this week.

The Buffs were very active in this one, forcing impact plays left and right. They forced an early fumble on Micah Bernard that was recovered by Utah and picked off Isaac Wilson three times. The most impressive of the bunch was this play by Colton Hood to smack the ball away from the Utah receiver right to Travis Hunter for the interception.

The young freshman Drelon Miller showed out on Saturday and had the best game of his career. Miller eclipsed 100 yards for the first time in his young career and showed off his ability to impact the game at wide receiver, just as he has done at running back earlier in the season. For the game, Miller finished with 6 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown while giving the Buffs another reliable, explosive weapon on the perimeter.

Cornerback Preston Hodge was a surprise scratch in Saturday's game after getting banged up late in last week’s matchup against Texas Tech. Running back Micah Welch missed another game due to his hamstring injury, and wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. also didn’t dress after suffering a lower leg injury against Texas Tech. Defensive tackle Shane Cokes also didn’t play after being questionable throughout the week.

Colorado

Total Yards: 405

Passing

Shedeur Sanders: 30-for-41, 340 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing

Isaiah Augustave: 7 carries, 59 yards, TD

Dallan Hayden: 4 catches, 6 yards

Travis Hunter: 1 carry, 5 yards, TD

Charlie Offerdahl: 1 carry, 4 yards, TD

Shedeur Sanders: 7 carries, -9 yards

Receiving

Drelon Miller: 6 catches, 108 yards, TD

LaJohntay Wester: 10 catches, 77 yards

Will Sheppard: 5 catches, 71 yards, 2 TD

Travis Hunter: 5 catches, 55 yards

Sav’ell Smalls: 1 catch, 12 yards

Dallan Hayden: 2 catches, 9 yards

Isaiah Augustave: 1 catch, 8 yards

Utah

Total yards: 272

Passing

Isaac Wilson: 21-for-40, 236 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT

Luke Bottari: 1-for-1, 5 yards

Rushing

Mike Mitchell: 7 carries, 28 yards

Micah Bernard: 11 carries, 20 yards

Charlie Vincent: 1 carry, 2 yards

Isaac Wilson: 11 carries, -19 yards

Receiving

Carsen Ryan: 4 catches, 78 yards

Dorian Singer: 5 catches, 65 yards, TD

Micah Bernard: 6 catches, 22 yards

Landen King: 1 catch, 21 yards

Daidren Zipperer: 1 catch, 18 yards

Zacharyus Williams: 1 catch, 16 yards

Munir McClain: 2 catches, 13 yards

Mike Mitchell: 1 catch, 5 yards

Caleb Lohner: 1 catch, 3 yards, TD