Colorado’s path to a first Big 12 win gets a lot clearer if Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson is limited - or unavailable - on Saturday.
Johnson is the engine of the Wildcats’ offense when he’s right. He leads Kansas State in passing with more than 1,300 yards and also tops the team in rushing with more than 450 yards.
That dual-threat ability is exactly why the Buffaloes have to build their plan around him, even though his status for this weekend is uncertain. Johnson missed last week’s game against Arizona State with an injury, and Kansas State’s other quarterbacks are also banged up.
The Wildcats have already shown what their offense can look like when the ground game takes over. Their first Big 12 win came against Kansas two weeks ago, and it came on the back of a heavy rushing attack. Joe Jackson and Avery Johnson both topped 130 rushing yards in that game, giving Kansas State the kind of two-pronged threat that can tilt a conference matchup.
That’s the version of Johnson Colorado has to be ready for. But the Buffaloes’ best answer is pretty straightforward: make him play from the pocket.
Johnson has been more dangerous as a runner than as a conventional passer. He has two games this season with more than 100 rushing yards, but he has not thrown for 300 yards in any game. Against Power Four competition over his four-year collegiate career, his only 300-yard passing performance came in a traditional passing role, and that’s the lane Colorado wants to force him into.
If the Buffaloes can keep Johnson contained inside the pocket, they give themselves a real shot to slow down the Kansas State offense and keep the game tight. There’s also a chance that pressure leads to mistakes, with Colorado possibly forcing a turnover or two if Johnson tries to squeeze throws downfield.
Kansas State will do everything it can to get Johnson on the field. If he suits up, though, Colorado’s defense should be prepared to make him operate in the one area where he’s been less comfortable, especially with the injury hanging over him. The Buffaloes’ defense has been solid all season outside of last week’s loss to Oklahoma State, and if they can recreate that steadiness here, they may finally get the conference win they’ve been chasing.
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Colorados season has reached a point where every week feels like a reset that never quite arrives. The Buffaloes bring a five-game losing streak into their Oct. 31 matchup with Kansas State, and the projections are bleak enough to underline just how much work is left to do. Colorado sits with the lowest Football Power Index rating in the Big 12, while the Wildcats arrive with a clearer path to bowl eligibility and a roster that has been more consistent on both sides of the ball.
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