BOULDER, Colo. -- Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders opened his news conference Saturday with some dark humor.
"A wonderful win," he said, before smiling. "I'm just joking."
Colorado didn't win against No. 8 USC, falling 48-41 before a sellout crowd at Folsom Field that included celebrities from the sports and entertainment world. Led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Buffaloes outscored the Trojans 27-14 in the second half and 14-0 in the fourth quarter, while outgaining coach Lincoln Riley's offense 564-498.
Neither Deion nor Shedeur Sanders believes in moral victories -- "I don't know what that means," Shedeur said -- but Colorado's strong second half against reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and the Trojans continued to reset expectations and optimism for a program that went 1-11 in 2022.