Colorado’s Halloween meeting with Kansas State now has an early start.
The Big 12 announced on Oct. 19 that the Buffaloes and Wildcats will kick off at 12 p.m. MT on Oct. 31 in Boulder. The game will air on TNT Sports and Tru TV, marking Colorado’s first appearance this season on the Turner Broadcasting side.
That matchup comes as Colorado tries to stop a four-game losing streak. The Buffaloes just fell 27-24 to then-No. 10 Utah in a game that came close to adding another upset during a chaotic Oct. 17 slate that saw five top 10 teams lose.
Before Halloween arrives, Colorado has another task in front of it: a trip to face the now unranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. But the Kansas State game is already set, and it brings a familiar problem for Deion Sanders’ team.
Sanders is 0-2 against the Wildcats. Kansas State beat Colorado 31-28 in Boulder in 2024, when the Buffaloes featured Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, then followed that up with a 24-14 win in Manhattan during the 2025 season.
Colorado’s offense will try to carry over some of the rhythm it found against Utah, but Kansas State is no easy draw. The Wildcats allow 20 points per game and 15 opposing touchdowns, and they also own the Big 12’s best pass defense as of Oct. 19, giving up just 136.3 passing yards per game. Even so, the Wildcats have allowed seven passing touchdowns, which could leave some openings for offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and new starting quarterback Isaac Wilson, especially with wide receiver Joseph Williams in the mix.
The bigger target may be on the ground. Kansas State is giving up 160 rushing yards per game, a mark topped only by West Virginia and Kansas in the conference. That gives Colorado a potential lane to lean on Micah Welch, Damian Henderson II and JaQuail Smith, who showed his versatility in the near upset of Utah.
For now, the Buffaloes have their Halloween date, their kickoff time, and another shot at Kansas State.
In Other News...
K-State Great Terence Newmans Return To Manhattan Took A Stunning Turn
Terence Newmans trip back to Manhattan was supposed to be a celebration of one of Kansas States all-time greats. The former Wildcats star was honored at the football game earlier in the day ahead of his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, a fitting nod to a player who starred at K-State from 1999 to 2002 before going on to a 15-year NFL career.
But the return took a sharp turn later, when Riley County police arrested Newman on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. For a program that had spent the day recognizing his place in school history, the late twist left a jarring contrast to what should have been a feel-good homecoming. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Just Got The Big 12 Boost It Desperately Needed
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Avery Johnson Is Improving Fast But K-State Still Has A Bigger Problem
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Johnson, now in his third season as the starter, is on pace for career bests in several statistical categories, which only sharpens the bigger question around this team. Kansas State is still 1-2 in Big 12 play for the second straight season, and the conference record is the part that matters most if the Wildcats want this momentum to mean something beyond one rivalry win. The quarterbacks progress is real, but the league standings still say there is more fixing to do. [Read more 🡒]