Kansas State left Boulder with the kind of loss that stings because it was right there to be grabbed.
The Wildcats pushed Colorado to overtime on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Folsom Field, but they couldn’t finish the job and fell 27-24. Late in regulation, Blake Barnett helped drag Kansas State into the extra period, yet the Wildcats didn’t make the plays they needed once overtime arrived.
That late burst was enough to keep the game alive, and it also shaped the way the offense was viewed afterward. With the quarterback situation factored in, Kansas State’s offense came away with a C+ because it did nearly everything it could reasonably be expected to do. Barnett’s late-regulation heroics put the Wildcats in position to win, and the unit did enough to give them a shot.
The defense, though, had a much rougher night. Kansas State continued to give up explosive plays, and those breakdowns showed up too often on third down.
The Wildcats can still get after the quarterback, but the rest of that side of the ball looks like something that will need a hard reset after the season. Even so, the defense did at least create chances for the offense late.
Special teams was the clearest problem area. Kansas State got an F there, with Brandon White’s role as a returner called into question and Luis Rodriguez missing two field goals. One of those misses came after a bad snap-hold process.
Collin Klein earned a C+ for coaching, with credit going to him for making a quick change from Dillon Duff in the first quarter. Klein worked around the Wildcats’ quarterback issues as best he could, but the concern around Jordan Peterson’s defense is only growing.
Barnett was the game’s MVP. For the second straight week, Kansas State had a backup quarterback who could manage the game, make a few plays, and keep the Wildcats in position to win.
The overall team grade landed at D. The finish made it entertaining, but the full performance still left plenty to be desired, especially with Colorado also not being a good team.
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Kansas State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Kansas States trip to Folsom Field ended in a 27-24 overtime loss to Colorado, but the bigger conversation may have been the Wildcats quarterback usage. The offense leaned on two different passers, and Blake Barnett helped spark a late touchdown drive that gave Kansas State a chance to extend the game after a night when the defense had its share of problems but still came up with a few late punts to keep the door open.
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