The Colorado Buffaloes entered their matchup against No. 18 Kansas State riding a wave of momentum, but that momentum was halted Saturday night in Boulder. Despite a heroic effort by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Colorado couldn’t overcome the Wildcats’ rushing attack and a series of key injuries, falling 31-28 at Folsom Field. The defeat drops Colorado to 4-2 on the season, leaving fans wondering what’s next for Deion Sanders’ team as injuries pile up and defensive vulnerabilities are exposed.
Kansas State’s Rushing Dominance
From the opening whistle, Kansas State made it clear that their strategy was to control the game on the ground. Running back DJ Giddens put on a masterclass, tearing through Colorado’s defense for 182 yards on 25 carries. Giddens became the first back this season to eclipse 100 yards against the Buffaloes, a feat that highlighted Colorado’s inability to stop the run—a weakness that Kansas State exploited throughout the night.
The Wildcats’ ground game set the tone for their offense, especially in the second half when they marched down the field with a grinding 16-play drive to take a 21-7 lead. Colorado’s defense had no answers, with missed tackles and poor run fits allowing Kansas State to dominate time of possession. “The goal was to stop the run, and we didn’t do that whatsoever,” Coach Deion Sanders admitted postgame. “They had 224 yards rushing (not counting yards lost on sacks), and they ultimately dominated the time of possession. That’s not good.”