BOULDER — Good to have you back, Ralphie.

Deion Sanders and Colorado got a boost from the program’s iconic live mascot as Ralphie VII made her debut prior to the start of Saturday’s game against Wyoming and then ran again before the start of the second half. 

On the way to a 37-20 win over the Cowboys, the Buffaloes scored touchdowns on three of their first four offensive possessions and then got another less than two minutes into the third quarter after watching the one-year-old American Bison prove she certainly does not have an indifference to running, crossing the 50-yard line each time she ran and with impressive speed, too.

Here are three takeaways from the game that has Coach Prime’s team at 2-2 (0-1 Big 12) after the final nonconference game of the season:

Salter stars

The quarterback controversy is over, it appears.

After being benched in favor of Ryan Staub a week ago, Kaidon Salter made his third start of the season and made sure there was no thought of putting him back on the pine.

The veteran Liberty transfer did exactly what Sanders wanted to see: make plays. He finished 18-for-28 passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the love around to a handful of his talented wide receivers. All three of his touchdown passes were 29 yards or longer, with the longest coming in at 68 yards.

He sealed the win with a 35-yard touchdown run.

Defense’s solid first half

The CU defense answered the bell.

After a disappointing performance a week ago in Houston, the Buffs did what they were supposed to do against an offense that has struggled as much as Wyoming’s has through three games.

In the first half in particular, the Cowboys managed just three points and 114 yards of offense, 50 of which came on one run by freshman Samuel Harris.

Injury concerns

Jordan Seaton’s absence was notable.

CU’s star left tackle is hard to miss, and he wasn’t out there for the opening drive of the second half. Despite the offensive success in the game, the Buffs are going to need the player Coach Prime has been calling ‘the franchise’ since the preseason.

He was seen on the sidelines in street clothes in the third quarter after Kareem Harden took his place at left tackle.

Starting right guard Zy Crisler also suffered an injury in the second half and did not return. He was replaced by Yahya Attia.