BOULDER– As the scoreboard read “41-14” in favor of the No. 8 University of Southern California Trojans with 7:14 left in the third quarter, some of the white shirts from Colorado’s white-out game started to depart.

The Colorado Buffaloes trailed by 27 points just a week after losing by 36 points to the then-No. 10 Oregon Ducks. The painful memories of the past two decades of Buffs’ football flashed through the minds of everyone in attendance– USC fans enjoying yet another win,  adding to their spotless record against Colorado.

While the Trojans and their fans got to celebrate their 17th win in a row over the Buffaloes, it wasn’t without their fair share of nerve-racking, nail-biting moments.

As the Buffs trailed 41-14, it seemed the black and gold were out of the game, not to be heard from again outside of a potential garbage time touchdown. Even when Colorado scored on the following drive, making it 41-21, a blowout seemed inevitable.

Every time the Buffs would create an opportunity, a crucial mistake ruined it.

On Colorado’s second drive of the game, Jace Feely missed a 41-yard field goal, keeping the Buffs scoreless, despite a great drive. USC went on to score 14 more unanswered points, going up 21 to nothing.

After finally stopping the bleeding as quarterback Shedeur Sanders found wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. for his first of two receiving touchdowns on the day, the “Force of Folsom” brought the heat. As USC quarterback Caleb Williams dropped back on second down, a screaming Omarion Cooper Sr. broke from his cornerback position with a Heisman favorite in his sights. As Cooper launched into Williams’ blindside, the Folsom faithful was injected with energy. A play later, the red and yellow had to punt.

With the ball in their possession and the crowd on their feet, CU had a chance to make it a one-score game. But after an incompletion on first down, offensive tackle Gerard Christian-Lichtenhan was penalized for a false start, pushing the Buffs back to second-and-15 at their own 15-yard line. A few plays later, the home offense had to punt while down 14 points, missing yet another opportunity to tighten up the score.

By the time halftime rolled around, Colorado found themselves down 20.

Williams threw for 260 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, completing 17 passes in 20 attempts. USC running back MarShawn Lloyd tacked on a rushing touchdown, along with his 76 rushing yards.

Still, the fight of the Buffaloes was present.

After trading touchdowns  to start the second half, USC found themselves in a third-and-6 situation on their own 45-yard line. Needing to throw the ball, Williams dropped back but rolled out to his right as the pocket collapsed. Looking ahead for wideout Brenden Rice, Williams released the ball to the former Buff. But, all Williams found was the hands of actual Buffs, as cornerback Cormani McClain picked off the tipped pass.

Yet again, the broken record continued to play. Despite the great coverage, draping defenders over Rice as Williams threw on the run, and with an extra bit of contact by Colorado, brought the referee’s hand into his pocket. CU safety Rodrick Ward committed pass interference, allowing USC to score once more. It was now 48-21– the unavoidable blowout was here.

But, from that point on, the switch flipped. The Buffaloes, appearing to be completely out of the game, proceeded to score 20 unanswered points.

Led by a historic, breakout performance by freshman receiver Omarion Miller, the Colorado offense could not be stopped. As CU’s junior quarterback dropped back, he kept finding receivers– specifically Miller, who caught seven passes for 196 yards and a touchdown.

Feeding off of the offense, the defense attempted their own rise to the occasion. With big hits, tackles for loss, and third down stops as the Colorado crowd roared louder than ever, the USC offense became stagnant.

The energy had shifted.

Down two scores with 10 minutes left, found receiver Xavier Weaver for a first down. But, USC’s Ceyair Wright had other plans. As Weaver snagged the pass, Wright swiped at Weaver’s hands, barely knocking the ball from the wideout’s grasp. The crowd hushed as the defensive back jumped up and down, slapping five with his excited teammates. Colorado was forced to punt.

Despite a missed USC field goal and another CU touchdown in the following drives, the mishaps had come to fruition- Colorado had run out of time.

In a game that could have been won, the Buffaloes had to play perfectly to which they were close. But, even when you play great, the little things win ball games. Colorado had messed up one too many times, allowing the USC Trojans the opportunity to make plays– which they did.

With the fight and talent displayed at Folsom Field by the Buffs, Boulder understood the meaning of such a performance- Colorado is only a few plays away from being a playoff team.

Encountering doubters at every step, that’s all anyone can ask for.

“That was fun,” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said after the game.