Sheader Sanders pushed the referee: “lucky” to avoid ejection in the match with “Colorado”

There was certainly a scenario Saturday night in which Colorado would have had to endure the final 20 minutes of a disappointing loss to Kansas without star guard Sheader Sanders.

Sanders, the son of Buffalo coach Deion Sanders and the projected top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, pushed referee Kevin Mara after taking a sack on third down with Colorado trailing by nine in the third quarter and getting “lucky” that this did not happen. That would lead to ousting, Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira said on air.

“There’s no doubt that he’s doing it,” Pereira said when asked about Sanders pushing Mara. “Look, I understand why he’s upset because people are almost climbing over him after he fell, but, you know, officials can use their hands whatever they want. they want to try to maintain order. But you cannot return as a player and push the referee.

“In all the chaos, the referees can’t see it, but he’s lucky he wasn’t kicked out of the game.”

After the dismissal, Sanders walked up behind Maru, who was surrounded by a group of players, and shoved the longtime official with his right hand.

By this point, three other referees had moved closer to the scene of the fight and tried to separate the players and Sanders, protecting Mara.

Sanders, who finished 23 of 29 for 266 yards and three touchdowns in No. 16 Colorado’s 37-21 loss, was not penalized in the game, but his frustrations began to boil over.

The game featured many physical blows, with Colorado’s College Football Playoff hopes on the line and Kansas trying to claw its way toward bowl eligibility.

At one point in the first half, cornerback Dean Miller lowered his head and lunged toward Sanders’ knees, attempting to pass the ball.

“I mean, I just don’t know how legal it is overall,” Sanders told reporters after the game when asked about Miller’s hit. “I don’t understand it, but, you know, it is what it is. There were a couple of plays like that.”

The Buffaloes were down 17-0 at one point, but were able to cut their deficit to two points early in the third quarter when Travis Hunter, who was also considered the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and Sanders connected for a touchdown.

But Devin Neal threw the final two touchdowns, giving the Jayhawks some cushion and ensuring Colorado was on track to end the night with a four-way tie at the top of the Big 12 standings.

After the game, Deion said Colorado was “drunk on success.”

“We started sniffing ourselves a little bit,” Dion said, according to ESPN. “…We have become intoxicated with a lot of articles and the assumption that we are this, and the assumption that we are that. And we didn’t play CU football. So we got our asses kicked. It is what it is.”