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Deion Sanders, Colorado players react to becoming bowl-eligible

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes greets fans after a win in a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes greets fans after a win in a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

With four regular season games still remaining, Colorado cracked the critical mark of six wins on Saturday night, giving the Buffs bowl eligibility for the first time in a non-COVID campaign since 2016.

Following Saturday's 34-24 victory over Cincinnati, head coach Deion Sanders and multiple players admitted that while they're proud of the achievement, the Buffs have bigger goals left to achieve. Colorado now stands 4-1 in Big 12 play and has cemented itself as a legitimate threat to reach the conference title game.

Check out what Coach Prime, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, placekicker Alejandro Mata and others had to say about Colorado becoming bowl-eligible:

Coach Prime reaches out to 99-year-old superfan Peggy Coppom

BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes stands with 98-years-old fan Peggy Coppom, who he invited to the field prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes stands with 98-years-old fan Peggy Coppom, who he invited to the field prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

"We wanted to give her love and appreciation and present her with the game ball, so we called her," Coach Prime said. "(Athletic director Rick George) was gracious enough to call her, and she answered on the first ring in Peggy fashion, with plenty of energy and that oomph that she has, and we told her that she is going to a bowl."

More on getting Peggy to a bowl game

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on before a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on before a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

"Now, we want to make sure she goes to the best possible bowl that she could possibly go to, and that means a lot to us, that really does," Coach Prime said. "She was so appreciative and thankful, but she means so much to this program, so we're glad that we could honor her in that realm. Now, we just got to get a private plane to make sure she's comfortable on the way there."

Aiming for more

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders leads out the team before the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders leads out the team before the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

"That's (bowl eligibility) not all we're after," Coach Prime said. "That's one of the hurdles that we're jumping over, that we're going over. That's a tremendous hurdle, that we're happy, we're excited, but that's not the end goal for us. That's the beginning, but we are thankful and appreciative that the hard work is going noticed.”

College Football Playoff hopes?

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Taje McCoy (40) and safety Carter Stoutmire (23) tackle Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Taje McCoy (40) and safety Carter Stoutmire (23) tackle Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

"We ain't think about the playoffs right now," Coach Prime said. "We go one game at a time. We don't even want to be ranked. Don't rank us, please. We don't like that. We rather be in the back, in the dark, just chilling in the cut. We good, we cool. We straight. All right, so don't feel pressure to rank us."

Shedeur Sanders gives his thoughts

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes carries the ball in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes carries the ball in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

"It’s big for us because it’s big for the fans," Shedeur said. "Us, we look at every game that we play as a possible win. We don't go into the season or look at the schedule like, 'Oh we're only gonna win six games.' That's not what happened, so the fact that we did it, it just trusts the process that we're using."

Shedeur also striving for more

Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) pitches the ball in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) pitches the ball in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

"We're not even hitting our peak, nowhere close," Shedeur said. "We still got a lot of things we got to clean up. We still have a lot of things offensively we have to excel more at. It's just a great thing. It's just a great badge of honor for now. But we got bigger aspirations.”

RB Isaiah Augustave looking for the Big 12 title

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Isaiah Augustave #23 of the Colorado Buffaloes carries the ball for a third quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Isaiah Augustave #23 of the Colorado Buffaloes carries the ball for a third quarter touchdown against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field on October 26, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

“It’s good to be bowl-eligible, but we’re coming for the Big 12 championship," Augustave said.

Kicker Alejandro Mata shares his pride

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders (left) embraces kicker Alejandro Mata against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders (left) embraces kicker Alejandro Mata against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“It definitely fills us with pride," Mata said. "After a season like last year, being able to bounce back with the coaching staff and the players, and feels great, and just full of pride.”

OL Justin Mayers opens up

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Justin Mayers (66) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Justin Mayers (66) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

"I'm so proud of this team," Mayers said. "A lot of people don't know how much work we put in, and all the adversity a lot of us go through as a player or as a unit as a whole. Being here as a transfer, I'm very thankful I chose CU.”

OL Kahlil Benson

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Kahlil Benson (67) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive lineman Kahlil Benson (67) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

"(The) adversity we went through, we bonded together as a team, came together and did what we had to do on the field and then off the field as well," Benson said. "Whether that's bonding out, going out together, doing whatever we have to do to make sure that we solidify everything that we got to do, especially like protecting the QB."

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Deion Sanders, Colorado players react to becoming bowl-eligible