Colorado secures second place in the Big 12 with a 41-27 win over Texas Tech

Colorado broke away from a potential logjam for second place in the Big 12 with a 41-27 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday in Lubbock.

The Buffaloes improved to 5-1 in the conference and trailed only BYU (5-0) in the standings heading into the Cougars' game against Utah on Saturday night. No. 17 Iowa State fell to 4-2 with its 45-36 loss to Kansas. With the Utes, Jayhawks and Oklahoma State still on Colorado's schedule, a potential spot in the Big 12 Championship Game is within reach.

After trailing 13-10 at halftime, Colorado scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the third quarter. First, Shedeur Sanders capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a seven-yard TD run to take a 17-13 lead.

Texas Tech came right back and took the lead, completing a 66-yard drive with a two-yard TD run by Tahj Brooks. The Red Raiders went for it on fourth-and-1 after quarterback Behren Morton was stopped at the 2-yard line for no gain.

However, the Buffaloes quickly responded with a 73-yard scoring drive that ended with Sanders hitting Will Sheppard with a back-shoulder throw for a five-yard touchdown.

The Red Raiders then turned the ball over on downs and attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from their own 31-yard line. But Jason Llewellyn's pass fell incomplete, leaving the Buffaloes with limited room to maneuver on offense.

Colorado took advantage of the gift, with Sanders connecting with LaJohntay Wester for a 22-yard gain and then hitting Travis Hunter for a 24-yard catch and run for a score.

Sanders threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns and completed 30 of 43 passes. Hunter had nine catches for 99 yards, followed by Wester, who caught six passes for 82 yards, and Sheppard, who recorded eight catches for 79 yards. All three receivers caught TD passes.

The Buffaloes lost receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. in the first quarter to a lower-body injury. He hadn't caught a pass at that point, but had two kickoff returns for 20 yards. For the season, Horn has 33 receptions for 434 yards and one touchdown. His absence gave more opportunities to Sheppard, who recorded a season-high in catches.

There were recurring problems throughout the game with Texas Tech fans throwing objects onto the field, including tortillas and water bottles. Fearing a penalty, TTU coach Joey McGuire asked fans to stop being disruptive late in the third quarter.

Brooks led Texas Tech with 137 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, although the Colorado defense held him in check for most of the first half. Josh Kelly had eight receptions for 106 yards and Morton completed 24 of 40 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Brooks became the all-time rushing leader in Texas Tech history. He passed Byron Hanspard, who ran for 4,135 yards from 1994 to 1996.