Colorado’s 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State on Oct. 31 gave the Buffaloes something they had been waiting on for a while: a result that actually changes the mood around the program.
With Kansas State down to its third and fourth quarterback options, Colorado still had to finish the job, and it did. The victory also put a spotlight on three developments that stood out in the aftermath.
The first was Richard Young finally getting his chance to carry the offense. After the game, Deion Sanders told reporters that Young had been in waiting mode, simply waiting for an opportunity to take over the backfield.
Sanders also said he never heard Young complain about not getting action and pointed to the way he practiced consistently. On Halloween, that patience paid off.
Young ran like the player who once ranked among Nick Saban and Alabama’s last five-star signings. He showed the downhill power that made him such a coveted recruit, especially on the score that broke a 14-14 tie by pounding through Kansas State between the tackles.
Colorado had already been sorting out its backfield rotation, with Micah Welch and Damian Henderson II handling the bell cow work and JaQuil Smith providing the speed element. Young’s performance showed what happens when his number is called.
He wasn’t the only Buffaloes player who made the most of the moment. On defense, edge rusher Yamil Talib delivered his own breakout.
Colorado came into the game with Lamont Lester Jr., Toby Anene and Santana Hopper - who had slid inside to help with interior defensive line depth - already leading the way up front. Talib, though, stepped in as another real option, giving the Buffaloes a fourth pass-rush threat.
He attacked with speed-to-power on a key sack that helped set the tone for Colorado. Talib finished with two sacks against the Wildcats, despite entering the game with just 1.5 sacks in his final season at Charlotte. He also piled up eight tackles, setting new career bests in the process.
At 240 pounds, Talib may look undersized at times, but Colorado’s staff found a way to unlock him for this matchup. If the Buffaloes want this pass rush to keep building, they’ll need more of that version of him.
And the win matters beyond the box score. ESPN’s Football Power Index had shown little faith in Colorado, with the Buffaloes carrying zero-percent projections tied to everything from national title hopes to winning out. They’re still 3-5 and two games under .500, but this result kept the season from slipping away completely.
The path ahead is at least manageable. Colorado has only one ranked opponent left, and that doesn’t come until Nov. 13 against Houston at Folsom Field. The other three remaining games - against Arizona State, Cincinnati and UCF - are all against teams with three or four losses.
The Buffaloes already got the hardest stretch out of the way. If they can keep playing like they did against Kansas State, reaching 6-6 no longer looks far-fetched.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Tough Loss
Kansas States overtime loss to Colorado did more than sting in the standings. It also exposed how thin the margin can be when a team is trying to survive a rough patch while already staring at major roster turnover, with key defensive lapses helping turn a winnable game into a frustrating finish. For a program that has leaned on continuity, the bigger concern may be how much of that foundation is about to change.
Collin Kleins decision to start sophomore quarterback Dillon Duff added another layer to the night, and Duffs early struggles forced Blake Barnett into the game. Barnett nearly pulled off a comeback, which only sharpened the sense that Kansas State is searching for answers in real time while also preparing for a potential rebuild as many players run out of eligibility and a new crop of recruits waits in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Found The Spark Its Offense Needed
Kansas State has been searching for any kind of lift on offense as it tries to climb out of a 1-4 Big 12 start, and a recent game against Colorado offered a small but meaningful sign. Tight end Linkon Cure scored his first career touchdown on a 33-yard catch from backup quarterback Blake Barnett, a play that stood out not just because it reached the end zone, but because it came from a player who has been showing steady growth this season.
Cures role has expanded with more receptions and more yards, and that kind of development matters for an offense still looking for reliable answers. The Wildcats need more than one bright moment to change their conference trajectory, but a young tight end finding his footing gives them something to build on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Just Took A Loss Fans Will Hate Hearing About
Kansas States trip to Boulder ended with a result that stings for a team trying to keep its season on track, as Colorado outlasted the Wildcats 27-24 in overtime. The Buffaloes snapped a five-game losing streak in the process, and they did it with a more settled offensive rhythm behind quarterback Isaac Wilson and a productive night from running back Richard Young.
For Kansas State, the frustration is less about one bad bounce than the way a game that was there to be won slipped away late. Colorado coach Deion Sanders pointed to the teams mentality and focus after the victory, which only adds to the sense that the Wildcats ran into a group that was desperate to reset its season and found enough answers to do it. [Read more 🡒]