Mel Kiper evaluates impact of Colorado loss on Shedeur Sanders' future

Mel Kiper isn’t worried about Shedeur Sanders‘ draft stock despite Colorado’s 42-6 loss to Oregon on Saturday. On Monday, the ESPN analyst evaluated the loss’ impact on Sanders’ future.

“I say none,” Kiper said. “Peyton Manning, when he played at Tennessee. Great quarterback, went up against the Florida Gators three times. Went 0-3. Lost to Danny Wuerffel twice and Doug Johnson. Think about the crosstown rivalry – UCLA and USC. Troy Aikman against Rodney Pete. Troy was 0-2 against Rodney Pete. Rodney Pete won both of those games.

“Think about when Ben Roethlisberger was at Miami of Ohio and he had to go to Iowa – didn’t go so well. How about when Josh Allen had to go to Iowa? That’s the big evaluation game for Josh Allen. His team was outmanned, just like Shedeur Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes were outmanned.

“Daunte Culpepper took UCF to Auburn, didn’t go well for Daunte. So if you think these so-called evaluation games are critical in the evaluation process, history tells us they usually are not.”

History is on Sanders’ side. After all, the the 6-foot-2 QB didn’t look awful even in defeat. Sanders completed 23 of 33 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. While Sanders’ passing total is unassuming, it’s understandable.

Sanders faced heat the whole game, ultimately suffering seven sacks. Although Sanders’ subpar performance was an unusual sight, the junior QB claims it wasn’t a coincidence.

“It’s not nothing magical or anything they did that was just like, unreal, surreal,” Sanders said after the loss. “It was just we didn’t execute our game plan.”

Shedeur Sanders still on track

Sanders isn’t used to those words coming out of his mouth. Heading into Saturday’s contest, Sanders was averaging 417 passing yards per game, trailing only Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. No other player averaged more than 330 passing yards per outing in the country.

Sanders also boasted the seventh-most passing touchdowns in the nation. Obviously, Kiper still believes in Sanders. He has the first-year Buffalo listed as No. 5 in his most recent NFL Draft rankings. Nonetheless, Sanders has work to do. Unfortunately for him, things won’t get any easier anytime soon.

On Saturday, Colorado will face off against the No. 8 USC Trojans at 9 a.m. PT. The matchup will be another quarterback contest for Sanders, who will go toe-to-toe with 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. The game will be broadcast on FOX.