DENVER (KDVR) — It’s been nearly two years since Deion Sanders was named the head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder, and even in his second season, the hype hasn’t died down.

The Buffs and Coach Prime returned for year two with a home opener at Folsom Field on Thursday. After a disappointing 4-8 season in 2023 that included only one in-conference win, the Buffs continue to remain at the center of the college universe.

It was the battle of the Buffs, and the Bison as CU took on North Dakota State for the first game of the 2024-25 season, and millions of people tuned in. According to ESPN, 4.8 million viewers watched the Thursday night opener — which was ESPN’s biggest Thursday opener since 2017.

At the game’s peak, ESPN said 5.6 million people watched the two teams faceoff for the first time. The Thursday night opener saw a 49% increase over the 2023 game, and ESPN said it was the top primetime telecast for people 18-49 years old.

Despite getting the W, the game wasn’t easy for the Buffs.

A 10 1/2-point favorite, the Buffaloes couldn’t shake a pesky Bison team that scored with 2:19 remaining to make things interesting. But ultimately, the Buffs pulled it off, beating the FCS powerhouse 31-26. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders finished 26 of 34 with an interception and a passer rating of 219.4.

While the Buffs still have some work to do offensively and defensively, the fanfare isn’t going anywhere. Now with a 1-0 record, the team is still helping to pull in millions of viewers for Sanders’ second season at the helm.

Next, the Buffs play their long-time rival, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in Nebraska on Saturday. Historically, the Buffs have won 21 games and lost 49 against the Cornhuskers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.