BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns — three to Travis Hunter — and Colorado began Year 2 under Deion Sanders by holding off FCS power North Dakota State 31-26 on Thursday night.

A 10 1/2-point favorite, the Buffaloes couldn’t shake a pesky Bison team that scored with 2:19 remaining to make things interesting.

Shedeur Sanders looked as if he sealed the season-opening victory when he scrambled around and heaved a ball downfield on third-and-8 that drew a pass interference call. It gave the Buffaloes a first down with 1:41 remaining and North Dakota State had just one timeout left. But Colorado chose to pass on first down, which ultimately left time on the clock after Colorado punted.

North Dakota State got the ball back with 31 seconds remaining. Cam Miller launched a pass from his own 47 as time expired that was caught by Tyler Terhark 4 yards short of the end zone.

The methodical play of the Bison in the first half helped keep Heisman Trophy hopeful Sanders and the Colorado offense on the sideline. But once Sanders got out there, he went to work.

Jimmy Horn Jr. had seven catches for 198 yards and a score while Hunter hauled in seven passes for 132 yards. His acrobatic, 3-yard TD with a defensive back draped all over him gave Colorado a 31-20 lead with 7:57 left. He celebrated by spinning the ball and going into a dance. Hunter still had that much energy despite playing all night at cornerback, too.

Like Sanders, Hunter's mentioned in Heisman conversation.

Sanders finished 26 of 34 with an interception and a passer rating of 219.4.

This version of the Buffaloes offense looked a whole lot like last season — terrifying passing game with virtually no rushing attack. The overhauled offensive line allowed only one sack, but Sanders spent quite a bit of time scrambling around.

The Colorado defense remains a work in progress under new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. Miller scored on a 20-yard scramble to make it 31-26. His pass on the two-point conversion was incomplete.

New North Dakota State coach Tim Polasek had his team on the cusp of an upset. The Bison led 20-17 at halftime due to the play of Miller. He rushed for two scores and threw for another. The Bison showed a national audience precisely why they are ranked No. 2 in the FCS preseason polls.

THE TAKEAWAY

North Dakota State: The Bison dropped to 9-5 against FBS opponents, including 3-2 against teams in the Big 12.

Colorado: The season finally arrived after an eventful summer for the Buffaloes that included Deion Sanders banning a Denver Post columnist indefinitely from asking questions.

UP NEXT

North Dakota State: Hosts Tennessee State a week from Saturday.

Colorado: At Nebraska next Saturday.

Derek Hill homers twice, Kyle Stowers drives in 4 as Marlins beat Rockies 12-8

DENVER (AP) — Derek Hill had three hits and the second two-homer game of his career, Kyle Stowers had three hits and four RBIs, and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 12-8 on Thursday to earn a split of their four-game series.

Ali Sánchez had three hits and stole home, Otto Lopez had three hits, and Connor Norby had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games for the Marlins, who had a season-high 18 hits.

“Eighteen hits, we’ll sign up for that any day of the week,” Marlins manager Skip Schumacher said. “Up and down the lineup, it was just a really good offensive day. This stadium is not easy to win at. No lead is safe.”

Hill, who also homered Wednesday, has four homers and 15 RBIs in 22 games since being acquired by the Marlins off waivers from San Francisco on Aug. 3.

Stowers had eight hits including a double, triple and homer in the series. He was acquired from Baltimore at the trade deadline.

“When he swings at strikes, he hits the ball really hard,” Schumacher said of Stowers. “He has pull-side power when he wants it. He’s a good overall hitter when he is in the strike zone. Still a young guy in this league. Still trying to figure out the league as well. The league adjusted. He adjusted.”

Stowers’ mother and saw him play in a Marlins’ uniform for the first time this series.

“I feel pretty good right now,” Stowers said. “I’ve been working really hard, so it is nice to see some results coming. Super fun series.”

Brendan Rodgers hit two home runs and Brenton Doyle had three hits, including a double and a homer, for the Rockies, who have won or split six of their last seven series at Coors Field.

Eight of the Rockies’ 12 hits went for extra bases. The Marlins, who lost five of six entering the series, had six extra-base hits.

Rodgers has two career multi-homer games, both against Miami. He had three homers and four RBIs in a 13-12 victory over the Marlins in the second game of a June 1 doubleheader at Coors Field.

The scoring started early. Hill homered and the Marlins used two infield hits, one a pop fly lost in the sun, to score another run in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Rodgers and Doyle homered in the bottom of the third to tie it at 2-2.

The Marlins used doubles by Sánchez and Stowers, a double steal with Sánchez scoring from third, a hit batter, an infield single and a fielding error by third baseman Ryan McMahon to score five runs off starter Bradley Blalock (1-1) for a 7-2 lead in the fourth. Stowers drove in two.

“He’s learning through the first couple of starts the difference between facing major league hitters and minor league hitters, and the importance of every pitch counting,” Colorado manager Bud Black said of Blalock, making his fourth major league start after being acquired at the trade deadline from Milwaukee.

The Rockies came back with four in their fourth, capped by Rodgers’ two-run homer off starter Valente Bellozo.

Hill’s two-run homer keyed a three-run fifth for an 11-6 lead. Sánchez also stole second base in the inning. He had his first two career stolen bases. Stowers singled in a run in the ninth.

Jesús Tinoco (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first career victory.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (Tommy John surgery) gave up three runs and struck out five in four innings at Double-A Hartford in his third rehab start Wednesday and is to make another start there next week. … LHP Antoine Kelly was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque.

NEXT UP

Baltimore right-hander Albert Suarez (6-4, 3.18) ERA is to oppose Colorado LHP Austin Gomber (4-9, 4.70) in the first game of a three-game series Friday at Coors Field. Suarez has given up two runs — a pair of solo homers — in his last 23 1/3 innings over four starts. For the Marlins, Austin Oller (1-1, 5.23) will oppose San Francisco's Blake Snell (2-3, 3.76)

Quinn Ewers and No. 4 Texas open against Colorado State eying first step in expected playoff run

Texas opens the season as one of the teams expected to make the newly-expanded College Football Playoff behind quarterback Quinn Ewers Anything less in the program’s first season in the Southeastern Conference would be a disappointment. Texas has its highest preseason ranking since 2010 when the Longhorns were No. 5 and finished 5-7. Colorado State coach Jay Norvell is trying to avoid a third consecutive losing season in his tenure. The Rams have one of the most prolific receivers in the country in Tory Horton.

Colorado State at No. 4 Texas, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Texas by 33 1/2.

Series record: Texas 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Texas opens the season as one of the teams expected to make the newly-expanded College Football Playoff behind quarterback Quinn Ewers. Anything less in the program's first season in the Southeastern Conference would be a disappointment. Texas has its highest preseason ranking since 2010 when the Longhorns were No. 5 and finished 5-7. Colorado State coach Jay Norvell is trying to avoid a third consecutive losing season in his tenure.

KEY MATCHUP

Colorado State's mature offensive line against Texas' rebuilt interior DL. The Rams start two seniors, a graduate student and a fourth-year junior up front. Texas lost last season's dominant playmakers Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat to the NFL, but return seniors Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton in new starting roles.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado State: WR Tory Horton had 96 catches for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.

Texas: WR Isaiah Bond transferred from Alabama and should be the playmaker Ewers needs after the Longhorns lost their top five receivers from last season. Bond led the Crimson Tide with 48 catches for 668 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

FACTS & FIGURES

Texas has its highest preseason ranking since 2010 when it started No. 5. The Longhorns finished 5-7 that season .... This season marks the 100th anniversary of Texas' Royal-Memorial Stadium, which held 27,000 when it opened and now seats 100,119 ... The Rams are without two key injured players, TE Jaxxon Warren and DE Nuer Gatkuoth ... The Mountain West has no teams from Texas, but the Rams have 19 players from the Lone Star State.