Head coach Deion Sanders' revamped Colorado football team kicked off its 2024 season on Thursday night with an entertaining 31-26 win over North Dakota State.

In front of a nearly sold-out Folsom Field crowd, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way phenom Travis Hunter and wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. were electric throughout, helping Colorado eclipse 500 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Buffs struggled early against NDSU's creative attack but made the necessary adjustments at halftime.

Although Coach Prime wasn't completely satisfied with the victory, he praised those who played well and noted that Colorado has much to improve moving forward.

Check out Coach Prime's best quotes following Colorado's first win of the season:

Mixed emotions

“You ever felt like you won, but you didn’t win? It’s almost like we had more points than they did. Giving up the last touchdown on the run, that bothered me because we pride ourselves on going to get the quarterback, and we have a multitude of young men that can go get the quarterback, and we didn’t get that done. But I’m thankful."

Closer to getting Peggy a bowl game

"I’m happy we got the W. Ms. Peggy’s one step closer to the dream and the vision that we have for her."

On defense's second half performance

"We knew we were gonna get it together soon. They were calling that every darn play that they ran. I mean, the defensive coaches are doing a wonderful job. We just got to do a better job of executing the scheme and being where we’re supposed to be."

Praise for Colorado's running backs

“Our running backs are good. We got to do a better job of using them a lot more, getting more yardage, but we gotta take what they gave us. I don’t think nobody’s upset with that. (Dallan) Hayden showed you what he could do. Charlie (Offerdahl) is Charlie. We were getting to throw No. 29 (Micah Welch) in at the conclusion of the game, but then they scored, because I wanted you guys to see him, because he was going to put that game away, running as physically as he does. But I’m not overly satisfied with how we ran the ball, especially with the yardage per game. We could do much better.”

Thoughts on Travis Hunter

"Travis is so explosive. We called it. We said that. You are playing some guys that are a pretty tough matchup for anybody. But then when you’re bailing and you let him catch it and face you up, that’s a problem. And he did what he does. Travis is a phenomenal player.”

On Shedeur Sanders' relationship with Pat Shurmur

"They have a phenomenal relationship, and just the overall chemistry and the communication of the two, even when he’s on the field and hearing Pat say certain things to him."

On the effectiveness of Colorado's run game

"You gotta take what people give you. You can’t take what you want, and it’s not there. Who’s upset? Well, the passing game looked pretty darn good today. So let’s be appreciative and thankful that we got one of the premier guys in college football spinning it. We’re going to run the ball. We’re going to have a lot more balance. Today was just that type of day. You gotta take what they give you.”

Praise for Jimmy Horn Jr.

"Jimmy is Jimmy. You never gonna see him jog a route. Jimmy’s gonna give you every darn thing he has, and with the burden he has on his shoulders. I mean Jimmy’s playing for his pop, man. Jimmy just came back from court seeing his father's sentence. Then come around and flip it and give you that? That was our conversation. You know his pop jamming in that thing right now."

Thoughts on the offensive line

“I'm happy. Like I said, I would love to run the ball a little more but shoot when you got over 500 yards of total offense, I thought it was pretty good. I’m gonna go home and sleep good."

Conversations with Shedeur

"I'm just reminding him (Shedeur Sanders) about the clock. I said, 'You know that big thing up there? That's a clock. Those numbers up there that are running down like that, that's for you. Okay? Look at that so I don't have to burn these timeouts.' That chemistry and that communication that Pat (Shurmur) and I had was great that we were able to accomplish some things."

On chemistry between Shedeur and Travis

"They got their own little thing going on. I ain't mad at it because it works. It’s just a certain chemistry that they have where Shedeur is gonna place that ball. If that guy is right beside him, he’s gonna place that ball. First of all, it ain’t no 50/50 ball with Travis. If the ball is up close, it’s his ball."

Pleased with the O-line

"You never want to see your son get hit, let alone your quarterback. But the O-line played a good game. We got to give them love. The guy got sacked one time and dropped back, what was it? Thirty-four times? I'm good with that.”

Praise for defensive coordinator Robert Livingston

"He’s a great communicator, one of the best communicators that I've been around. His message is loud and clear not only throughout the game but have time to make the adjustments. Then on to the second half, you gotta understand the guys go down, this happens. You got guys losing contain so you gotta make personnel changes. He did a great job of balancing everything."

Final thoughts

"The W or the L, that's what you remember. You guys could pick it apart. But you're here for the W or the L. Some of you get upset that we got a W and are really mad we didn't get the L."

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Deion Sanders' best quotes following the CU Buffs' opening night win