TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns and Colorado's defense beat Arizona in a 34-7 victory on Saturday.

The Buffaloes (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) scored two early touchdowns and outran the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3) all afternoon to recover from last week's 31-28 loss to Kansas State recover.

Sanders threw two touchdowns with two interceptions on 23 of 33 passing and ran for another score. Colorado converted 8 of 11 third downs, building a 21-point halftime lead and its defense held the Wildcats to 245 total yards.

Arizona spent most of the afternoon chasing the Buffaloes.

The Wildcats struggled to protect quarterback Noah Fifita, giving up seven sacks after allowing a total of six in the first six games. Fifita struggled most of the day, throwing an interception, losing a fumble and failing to find preseason All-American Tetairoa McMillan, who had five catches for 38 yards.

Arizona coach Brent Brennan said the team's problems were “100 percent my fault” and the number of player injuries was “rare air” to him, ABC15's Matt Reynoldson reported on X.

One of those many injuries piling up was junior linebacker Jacob Manu, who was sidelined in the second quarter with a non-contact injury.

The Wildcats' problems began on the opening kickoff.

To surprise the Buffaloes, Arizona attempted an onside kick that failed and spent most of the first half defending a small field.

Colorado started its first drive on Arizona's 46-yard run and converted it with Isaiah Augustave's 1-yard touchdown run. Drelon Miller scored on a 1-yard shovel pass from Sanders on the next drive, then Will Sheppard scored a 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone – initially ruled incomplete before being overturned on review.

Sanders' 6-yard touchdown run gave Colorado a 28-7 halftime lead.

Arizona had a sustained drive in the first half, capped by Fifita's 1-yard shovel pass to Chris Hunter, and lost a fumble deep in its own end – two plays after recovering a fumble.

Colorado's offense stalled in the second half, but the way its defense played didn't matter.

Linebacker Jack Luttrell was one of the few bright spots for the Wildcats in every phase of the game, as the freshman had two interceptions in his first career start.

THE TAKEAWAY

A week after a narrow loss to Kansas State, Colorado appears to be back on track with one of its best all-around games. Arizona is looking for answers on both sides after its third straight loss.

NEXT

Colorado: hosts Cincinnati next Saturday.

Arizona: hosts West Virginia next Saturday.