The Colorado Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) lost to the Kansas State Wildcats (5-1, 3-1 Big 12) 31-28 on Saturday night. In what was a mistake-ridden game, the black and gold were unable to continue their undefeated streak in their early slate of conference play.
Apart from untimely, unnecessarily long sacks, poor tackling, and an uninspiring run game, the Buffaloes were without superstar receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter for the majority of the game. He was taken into the locker room late in the first half and ruled as questionable to return before not seeing the field for the rest of the night.
The game started slowly for both teams as the Buffaloes and Wildcats traded punts to open the contest. Despite the slow start, Colorado opened up the scoring for the night with a 25-yard touchdown reception halfway through the first quarter. With the Wildcats sending another cover zero blitz, LaJohntay Wester was left unaccounted for in coverage and was aided by some handy Travis Hunter blocks to make his way into the end zone to give the Buffs a 7-0 lead.
After that point, Colorado’s offense became anemic and the defense could not pick up the slack. Kansas State scored 21 unanswered points in response to CU's touchdown, including former Buff Dylan Edwards’ first-ever touchdown in Folsom Field on a one yard carry at the end of the second quarter to make it 21-7.
Two hours and one minute of real time after they first scored, the Buffs finally got back on the board with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Will Sheppard, who had dropped a potential touchdown just two plays earlier, to make it 21-14.
After getting a crucial red zone stop and forcing a KSU field goal late in the third quarter, the Buffs remained within reach of the game and had the chance to turn it into a one-score game.
Unfortunately for the packed crowd of Boulder faithful at Folsom Field of 53,972, quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw an untimely interception just outside of the red zone which stumped all momentum. Despite having what many consider to be a successful season until this point, Sanders’ has already topped his interception total from 2023, he sits at four interceptions in six games compared to three in 11 games last year.
Regardless of the struggles of the defense throughout, as they gave up 221 sack-adjusted rushing yards and consistently missed tackles, Colorado stood up to the challenge and forced a Wildcat three-and-out that avoided giving Kansas State a chance to seal it with just over eight minutes to go in the contest.
With the momentum from the stop, the Pat Shurmur-led offense needed to capitalize. On fourth-and-three, Sanders faced pressure from the Wildcat rush. Stepping up into the pocket, he fired a dart to Wester over the middle, who took it for 14 yards to keep the drive and the Buffs’ chances alive.
Four plays later, Sanders handed it off to Isaiah Augustave and gave him some help with a push up the middle for a rushing touchdown to make it a one-score game and 24-21.
With the Wildcats driving, the Buffaloes made a critical third-down stop on their 32-yard line. Not satisfied with a long field goal try, the Wildcats kept the offense on-field to go for the conversion. Attempting to bring themselves closer to sealing victory with a first down, disaster struck for the purple and white.
Avery Johnson’s pass was deflected into the air and intercepted by Colton Hood, who was listed as the backup cornerback to the injured Hunter. With a lane to return it for six, Hood stumbled and fell after gaining 59 yards on the return.
Just two plays later, the Buffs made good on the missed touchdown opportunity. Sanders fired a pass to an outbreaking Wester who was one-on-one in space. With just one move to make, Wester got into the end zone for a crowd-popping touchdown that gave the Buffs their first lead since their first touchdown of the game at 28-24 and 3:12 to go.
Just as quickly as the Buffs retook the lead, however, they gave it right back up.
After an incompletion from Johnson on first down, the Wildcats were behind schedule and momentum was trending in Colorado’s direction. But only two plays later, Jayce Brown was hustling down the sideline on his way to a 50-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead once again.
“They just made a play,” said safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig after the game. “It happens in football.”
With 2:21 to go and one timeout left, the Buffs had more than enough opportunity to make some magical plays happen that Buffs fans have become all too used to seeing from Shedeur Sanders and this offense.
But without many of their top offensive playmakers, the black and gold could not even get past midfield. On fourth and three with 1:17 remaining, Sanders dropped back and took a moment to read the field. With pressure looming, Sanders wound up and lobbed a 50/50 ball to Sheppard down the right sideline. The ball was slightly off target and went out of bounds, and despite contact that head coach Deion Sanders believed was worthy of a pass interference call, the field was without yellow laundry to save the Buffs’ chances.
Tackling was a point of contention in this game, and with the return of safety Shilo Sanders many expected the defense to improve. Instead, it got worse.
“We didn’t tackle whatsoever," coach Sanders stated postgame.
Fans were disappointed with Shilo’s play defensively, but they were not alone in their feelings. When prompted about the performance of his son in his return, coach Sanders didn’t mince his words, either.
“I thought he played horrible,” coach Sanders said. “I thought he was rusty.”
Travis Hunter’s injury is one of the larger stories in college football, not just in the context of today. Hunter is touted as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy award and missing time with an injury could take him out of the running.
“I haven’t gotten an update on those particular young men,” coach Sanders said about Hunter and the other players who left Saturday’s contest.
The Buffs could only manage 45 sack-adjusted rushing yards and with some incredibly long sacks taken by Shedeur Sanders, the overall total was -29. The balance that many have spoken highly of in recent weeks was simply not there Saturday night, and with questionable use of personnel (running back Micah Welch had zero carries), this game could be a bad omen for the typically high-powered offense.
“They did a great job scheme-wise to make it difficult to run the ball in those situations,” Shedeur said post-game.
Despite the disappointing end result, the team was encouraged by the depth and resilience of the team to continue to battle despite losing most of their top playmakers.
“It’s really next man up, honestly,” Shedeur mentioned. “The guys that got in were ready to play. Drelon Miller stepped up and did what he was supposed to do.”
“This team has heart,” coach Sanders said. “They have integrity, they’re tough. They love to play this game. We just came up short.”
Looking ahead, the Buffs follow up their first home and conference loss of the season with a trip to Tucson, playing the Arizona Wildcats (3-3, Big 12 1-3) on October 19 at 2:15 p.m. MT. Facing off against another team of Wildcats, the Buffs look to take another road win, where they are 2-1 this season.
Cover photo by Brody Rector/Sko Buffs Sports
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