BOULDER – Two weeks and a day after the Colorado Buffaloes’ historical breakdown to the Stanford Cardinal, the Buffs lost 28-16 to the No. 23 University of California, Los Angeles Bruins despite a valiant defensive performance.

“Today, we played our butts off,” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said after the game, “I feel like I’m proud of the kids. I really am proud of these young men.”

The Buffs struck first, capping off their opening 13-play, 62-yard drive with a field goal by kicker Alejandro Mata to go up three points. After receiving the opening kickoff for the first time this season, the black and gold turned the opening drive into points.

Up 3-0, CU looked to get a big stop. Two-way superstar Travis Hunter did just that, baiting UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers into an interception. After a review, the referees confirmed Hunter’s second interception of the year.

“He was prepared and ready today,” Coach Prime said. “He gave you a ‘Travis Hunter’ performance.”

The Buffs’ offense looked to capitalize, but the great field position only turned into three points. However, Colorado led 6-0 against the ranked Bruins. By the end of the first, the score remained the same.

Going into the second quarter, UCLA was amidst their third drive of the game. Unlike the first two drives, the Bruins moved the ball up the field with ease. On fourth-and-11 just past midfield, Garbers got loose for a 13-yard scramble to keep the drive alive. On the ninth play of the drive, the royal blue offense lined up in a T formation. Using the unorthodox set, running back Carson Steele was left all alone for a three-yard touchdown reception.

Down a point, the Colorado offense looked to respond. However, the inconsistent play of the offensive line continued, allowing UCLA’s defensive line numerous chances at CU’s Shedeur Sanders. With little protection and Sanders taking a beating in the backfield, the Buffs’ offense stalled.

“I know everybody is doing their best,” Sanders said. “We just weren’t on the same page tonight. We just gotta watch the film and get better.”

Luckily, the CU defense came to play, forcing three turnovers in the quarter. Hunter baited another interception while defensive backs Shilo Sanders and Roderick Ward forced Steele to fumble twice with both being recovered by the Buffs.

Amidst the turnover barrage, UCLA kicker R.J. Lopez pushed a 24-yard field goal left, keeping the score 7-6.

While the Buffs failed to move the ball up the field, the Bruins failed to keep the ball out of the hands of Colorado defenders.

But the Colorado defense took some damage after Shilo put a thundering lick on UCLA running back Carsen Ryan. As Sanders celebrated the huge hit, yellow flags flew and the graduate student was ejected from the game with 3:23 to go in the second quarter after receiving a controversial targeting penalty for the collision.

“I don’t complain about official calls,” Coach Prime said about his son’s ejection, “…But the catch on the sideline and the targeting for Shilo, I’m still questioning those things. But, it is what it is.”

Heading into halftime, Colorado had played a respectable half of football. But only being down one to the No. 23 UCLA Bruins didn’t come without a price. During the intermission, the Buffs junior quarterback received an injection to “block some of the pain” according to his father.

“I’m a little banged up,” Shedeur said, “That’s just what happens.”

The younger Sanders was sacked seven times, taking hit after hit from UCLA’s top defensive line. Bruins’ defensive lineman Laiatu Latu recorded two sacks and a quarterback hit on the night, adding to his already impressive senior campaign.

Coming out of the break, the UCLA offense flipped the game on its head, making quick work on the opening drive of the half. After a 49-yard reception by senior wideout Logan Loya, junior tight end Moliki Matavao tacked on a 26-yard touchdown reception for six. After two plays, the Bruins led the Buffaloes, 14-6.

Both teams proceeded to hold one another’s offense on back-to-back drives before wide receiver Xavier Weaver got loose for a 45-yard reception. But after Sanders scrambled for a yard on first down, got sacked on second down, and threw an incompletion on third down while getting hurried by UCLA’s relentless defensive front, the Buffs had to bring out Mata to settle for three points yet again. Colorado trailed 14-9 with 4:17 in the third quarter.

“Depth,” Coach Prime replied when asked about what the offensive line’s struggles were, “Not only depth, killer instinct, want, desire, will, athleticism. The hardest thing to acquire is linemen.”

“The big picture, you go get new linemen. That’s the picture and I’ma paint it perfectly.”

Following the missed opportunity, the Bruins responded with a five-minute, 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. On the drive’s last play, UCLA running back T.J. Harden found the endzone on a three-yard run. As the flashing strobe lights lit up the Rose Bowl, it was clear Colorado had run out of gas.

“I don’t give a damn about no bowl,” Coach Prime said, “We try to win, period… I think we proved that.”

“The young men played a heck of a game. They really did. They played their butts off. A lot of the mistakes we made, we know we can do better.”

Up 21-9, the blue and gold scored their last touchdown of the game a few drives later and extended their lead to 19.

Still, the Buffs stayed persistent as wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. caught an 18-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter with 2:41 left. But the garbage time score was deemed meaningless as UCLA coasted to their sixth win of the season by a margin of 12 points.

“We gotta do a lot better,” Coach Prime said. “Not only offensively and defensively, but coaching the game.”

Colorado’s next game is against the No. 11 Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Folsom Field. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT.