Colorado closed out a frigid and forgettable season Saturday with a 24-14 loss to Kansas State, dropping the Buffaloes to 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big 12. The worst mark in Deion Sanders' tenure at CU. The Wildcats, powered by running back Joe Jackson’s three touchdowns, improved to 6-6 and secured bowl eligibility.
Kansas State controlled the opening quarter with a 13-play, 74-yard drive that drained more than seven minutes. Jackson punched in a four-yard touchdown run for a 7–0 lead with 7:40 left in the first. Colorado answered with a committed ground approach of its own, but the drive unraveled after a sack and a near interception, ending in a blocked Alejandro Mata field goal attempt in the final minute. By the end of the quarter, Kansas State held a 7–0 lead and an 84–35 edge in total yardage.
Colorado’s defense provided a spark early in the second quarter, forcing the game’s first punt at 14:46. The Buffs moved into Wildcats territory on the ensuing drive but came up short on fourth-and-three from the K-State 33. Colorado’s defense delivered again with a fourth-down stop at its own 47, only for the offense to give the ball back when Kaidon Salter was intercepted at the Kansas State 16 with 3:46 left.
The Buffaloes capitalized on their final chance before halftime. Dallan Hayden ripped off a pair of explosive runs, and a 38-yard screen to Omarion Miller set up a one-yard touchdown by Micah Welch with 18 seconds remaining. The 11-play, 84-yard drive tied the game 7–7 at the break. Colorado outgained Kansas State 162–114 in the half and held the Wildcats to 59 rushing yards.
Colorado opened the second half with another promising march, but for the second time the Buffaloes failed on fourth down inside K-State territory this time at the 32. A short 39-yard punt later in the quarter helped set up the Wildcats’ go-ahead drive. Quarterback Avery Johnson hit a pair of chunk throws before Jackson capped the possession with another short touchdown for a 14–7 lead at 4:32. The Wildcats entered the fourth quarter with a 14–7 advantage and 208 total yards to Colorado’s 229.
Luis Rodriguez extended the lead to 17–7 with a 35-yard field goal at 10:23 after Colorado’s defense held in the red zone. The Buffaloes answered with one of their sharpest drives of the day, nine plays, 75 yards highlighted by a 43-yard strike from Salter to Miller and a pass interference penalty. Welch finished the series with his second one-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17–14 with 7:03 remaining.
But Colorado’s defense, sturdy for much of the afternoon, couldn’t muster one more stop. Jackson broke through a worn-down front for his third touchdown of the game with 2:34 left, sealing the Wildcats’ 24–14 win. Jackson finished with 142 yards on the ground, leading a Kansas State rushing attack that wore Colorado down late.
Colorado ends its season on a five-game losing streak and searching for answers after a year defined by inconsistency, missed opportunities and a continued struggle to stop the run. Kansas State, meanwhile, moves on to bowl season.
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