Colorado always brings a little extra juice for Kansas State, and this week the Wildcats have a built-in layer of hometown connection that reaches all the way to the sideline.
Freshman offensive lineman Oliver Miller is one of six Colorado natives on the K-State roster, and he has had this trip circled for a while. Miller, who came out of Cherry Creek High School in Centennial, said the game at Folsom Field carries real meaning for him because Boulder is close to home and full of familiar faces.
“It definitely means a lot,” Miller said. “I love Colorado.
I’m a native. Boulder is really close to me, and I love going back.
I have been to Boulder a few times just to visit. I have a lot of family that went there.
This game means a lot, and I’m excited to go back.”
The other Colorado players on the Wildcats are Blake Barnett, George Fitzpatrcik, Max Lovett, Tanner Morley and John Pastore, and their teammates know exactly what this game means to them. That kind of connection has given the matchup a different feel inside the program, even if it still doesn’t rise above the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas or Farmageddon against Iowa State.
It also gives Kansas State coach Collin Klein a personal stake in the trip. Klein grew up in nearby Loveland, and the Colorado game is a homecoming for him too. His background in the state has made recruiting there a priority, and he has made no secret of wanting to mine the area for talent.
Klein said he used to attend Colorado State games as a kid and watched Colorado on TV before later seeing both teams up close and competing in high school in the state. Since taking over in Manhattan, he and the Wildcats have been heavily involved with Titus Huard, a four-star quarterback from Littleton, Colorado.
The Wildcats have beaten Colorado in each of the past two meetings, and another win would carry value beyond the field. It would also give Klein a familiar crowd to play in front of, with more family and friends than usual in the stands.
“It will be great that there will be a lot of family there,” Klein said. “But the focus is about our team and our guys and doing everything we can to make sure that we make progress and do the things necessary to win the game.”
That same mindset is spreading through the locker room, especially for players like Travis Bates, who understands what it means to suit up against a team from your home state.
“Me being from Houston, whenever I play Houston or a Texas team it means a lot,” K-State defensive lineman Travis Bates said. “It’s the same thing for them.
We always say the most unselfish thing that a person can do is play for someone else’s ‘why.’ This week, I really want to play for those Colorado guys because I know how much it means to play in your home state.”
In Other News...
Colorados Halloween Home Game Just Sent A Tough Message In Boulder
Colorados Halloween date with Kansas State in Boulder is shaping up as more than just another conference game on the calendar. Ticket resale prices have slid sharply for the Oct. 31 matchup, with some seats available starting at $25, even as the university leans into the holiday atmosphere by staging a pregame event with trick-or-treating and a costume parade.
The setup gives the night a different kind of feel, with families and students getting a festive pregame window before the football takes center stage. The universitys rules on masks and weapons are part of that planning, and the game itself will be widely available on TNT, truTV and HBO Max, ensuring Kansas States trip to Boulder lands on a big stage even if the market around it has softened. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados QB Situation Just Took A Much More Serious Turn
Colorados quarterback room got a jolt this week when Julian Lewis experienced a medical emergency at the universitys athletic facility and was taken to the hospital. Lewis father later confirmed that the freshman is recovering, while also thanking the medical staff and the people who reached out with support. Coach Deion Sanders addressed Lewis status as the Buffaloes prepared for a pivotal stretch, and the latest update quickly shifted attention from depth-chart questions to something far more urgent.
From Kansas States perspective, the timing matters because Colorado had already entered the week with Lewis listed as doubtful for the matchup. The Wildcats will be watching the situation closely as the Buffaloes sort through their options, but the bigger concern remains Lewis health and recovery before anything else. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Injury Problems Are Raising Big Questions Before Kansas State
Colorado heads into its meeting with Kansas State already dealing with a stretch of injury trouble that has started to shape the week-long conversation around the matchup. The Buffaloes have been forced to adjust without Gibson and Welch, and those absences have left their running game and special teams in a tougher spot than usual as they prepare for the Wildcats.
Kansas State has its own availability concerns, with Avery Johnson and likely backup Jacob Knuth both expected to be out, which only adds to the uncertainty on both sidelines. Colorado does have a few encouraging signs, including Perry trending toward a return, while Julian Lewis is still recovering from a medical emergency, leaving the Buffaloes to sort through a roster picture that feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]