Colorado head coach Deion Sanders says Colorado State showed "disrespect" to his program prior to Saturday night's in-state rivalry game.

Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter responded by leading their team to a 28-9 road victory.

"Wonderful game. Personal game. Heartfelt game. Emotional game. They kinda make it like that," Sanders said after the victory, per DNVR's Jake Schwanitz. "The disrespect was uncalled for during the week. We knew coming in to the game it would be a bit personal. I just pray that our kids would never act in that matter, cause y'all would have a field day with it.

"Great darn victory. Offensive line was phenomenal. The defense picked up right where it picked up in the second half of last week's game."

In the week leading up to the game, CBS News Colorado's Romi Bean shared an interview from Colorado State's media day in which quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton called out their in-state rivals.

The Rams players referenced last year's Colorado-Colorado State matchup, during which the Buffaloes required double overtime to win a close game at home.

"They came out with that attitude and thought it was going to be a cakewalk," Fowler-Nicolosi told CBS News Colorado about the 2023 matchup (transcription h/t Fox Sports). "They got a rude, rude awakening real quick. I think it goes to show the hype, the media train, all that only gets you so far. At the end of the day, you have to line up 11 guys against our 11 guys and we'll find out who wants it more. We'll see how far Instagram followers gets them."

Horton added: "The millions of followers and fans they produced and got and celebrities that jumped on their side because of who Deion Sanders is. End of the day Deion Sanders ain't playing. It's those players playing. So those players better back up what they speak about."

Sanders said after the win that he was happy how his team responded to the Colorado State players' comments, except that the Buffaloes were "upset" they had allowed the Rams to run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Colorado was still able to claim the team's strongest win of the season yet following a tight season-opening victory over North Dakota State and a loss to rival Nebraska last week. Sanders will now hope to ride that momentum into next Saturday's home game against Baylor.