Colorado was, quite literally, 1 second away from fading into irrelevance in Deion Sanders' second season. Since quarterback Shedeur Sanders' miraculous game-winning touchdown pass against Baylor, though, the Buffaloes have flipped the script.
After beating Baylor and UCF in their first two Big 12 games since rejoining the conference, the Buffaloes are one of only five Big 12 teams unbeaten in conference play. Especially after dominating UCF 48-21, the Buffs are suddenly set to play one of the biggest games of the early Big 12 season as they host No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday.
In so many ways, the battle between Colorado and Kansas State is one of contrasts. Kansas State won the Big 12 in 2022. Colorado is searching for its first five-win season since 2019. The Wildcats are the picture of toughness and strength in the trenches. The Buffaloes have an experienced quarterback and high-flying offense. CU is filled with NFL-bound stars. KSU is filled with blue-collar maulers.
But, more importantly, Kansas State represents the established power of the Big 12. For Colorado to reach that level, these are the kinds of games it has to win. And unlike the 2023 season, when the Buffs were overmatched against real competition, CU might have the goods to make it happen.
That improvement, ironically, starts on defense. Colorado actually ranks higher in Expected Points Added (EPA) on defense than offense, ranking No. 32 in the metric. That strength starts in the trenches. Against UCF, Colorado allowed only two carries of more than 10 yards against running backs as the defensive line has become the strength of the team.
The unit will be put to the test against Kansas State, however, which rates among the best rushing offenses in the country. The Wildcats trail only Boise State in yards per carry nationally at 6.93 behind the three-headed monster of DJ Giddens, Dylan Edwards and quarterback Avery Johnson. Edwards started his career under Sanders at Colorado before transferring back to Kansas State.
Of course, that leaves one of the best offensive partnerships in college football. Sanders and Travis Hunter have connected 46 times for 561 yards and six touchdowns to rank top 10 nationally in receiving yards and No. 2 in receptions. Colorado's offensive line hasn't quite meshed as the program averages only 2.9 yards per carry, but the high-flying acrobatics of Sanders and his receiving corps gives the Buffaloes a chance every week.
A win over Kansas State would earn the program credibility in its own right. But, even more so, if Colorado is able to handle Kansas State, the schedule opens up.
Games against Arizona, Kansas and Oklahoma State look far more manageable than they did the preseason. A game against No. 16 Utah comes at home, but the Buffaloes also played them close one year ago. The Big 12 is the most upwardly mobile conference in the country, and the Buffaloes are new money hoping to cash in.
Every year between 2017 and 2022, a new team made its way into the Big 12 Championship Game. Those teams typically boasted experienced rosters with veteran leaders. They rode close-game luck and made all the right plays at the end of games. Having the best player on the field when playing both offense and defense can't hurt.
After four games, one Colorado fan on social media complained that the Buffaloes didn't receive any votes in the AP Top 25. Deion Sanders Jr. had a simple answer to it: "We shouldn't."
In so many ways, Kansas State is the exact kind of program built to humble Colorado, just like Nebraska and Oregon before them. But if Colorado beats Kansas State, that narrative is out the door. If the Buffaloes win, they officially enter the Big 12 title race.
