WATCH: Shedeur Sanders shows off Centennial Cup with Colorado fans after dominant 28-9 win over state rivals

The Colorado Buffaloes and quarterback Shedeur Sanders emphatically beat rivals Colorado State Rams after a heated verbal back and forth in the week leading up to the game. Unlike last season's double-overtime win, the Buffs were surgical, handily beating the Rams 28-10 to improve to 2-1.

Sanders was his usual imperious self after last week's inconsistent showing in Lincoln against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He went 36-of-49 for 310 yards resulting in four touchdowns with two of the passes finding two-way star Travis Hunter for two touchdowns.

After the game, the quarterback posed with fans while holding the Centennial Cup, awarded to the winner of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

His father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders, was adamant in his postgame news conference that the quarterback could play better.

“He [Shedeur] can be even better,” Deion Sanders said. “There’s no ceiling.”

Shedeur Sanders shows leadership

Last week after he was sacked five times in the game against the Dylan Raiola-led Nebraska Cornhuskers, Shedeur Sanders was widely criticized for his comments that seemed to apportion blame for the loss to Colorado's O-line.

In the game against the Colorado State Rams, the Buffs O-line opened up gaps all game and protected the quarterback ferociously. They only allowed one sack in the fourth quarter with the game well and truly won.

During his postgame news conference, Shedeur had the offensive line stand behind him and Hunter to receive the acclaim that came with the flawless performance.

Buffs coach Deion Sanders highlighted the criticism the offensive line got and the ramifications of some of the discourse about them.

"You guys buried them last week after the game. There was a lot of hate and disdain and, 'Here we go again.' That's what they got," Deion Sanders said. "These are young men. They are still filled with feelings and emotions. They get those text messages. They get the DMs. That don't make them feel well."

The Rams scored their only touchdown after Travis Hunter had left the field. Sanders showed his competitive spirit with his comments about his teammate leaving the game allowing their rivals the score.

"I got mad at him [Hunter] for getting out the game, too. I said don't ever do that again. Check in next time," Shedeur Sanders said.

The discourse surrounding the Buffaloes and especially Shedeur Sanders, who is expected to be a first-round pick in next year's NFL draft, moves from overly negative to extremely positive every week. Still, this weekend at least, Colorado put in a competitive performance on the gridiron.