Kansas State walks into Boulder dealing with a quarterback problem that keeps getting worse, and that’s the kind of mess that can swallow a game before kickoff. The Wildcats will be without Avery Johnson for a second straight week when they meet Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m.
CT at Folsom Field. Jacob Knuth, who started in Johnson’s place last week, is also likely out, leaving Kansas State to possibly turn to Blake Barnett or Dillon Duff.
That uncertainty gives this matchup an uneasy feel right away. Neither team has exactly been lighting the world on fire, but Colorado’s 2-5 record and 0-4 Big 12 mark doesn’t tell the whole story.
The Buffaloes pushed No. 5 Utah to a 27-24 finish, then took a 57-24 beating at Oklahoma State last week.
In other words, there’s enough here to make this game interesting, even if pretty is not part of the discussion.
For Kansas State, the biggest concern is obvious: the Wildcats don’t have the quarterback edge, and their ground game doesn’t look steady enough to carry them. Still, one area does tilt their way.
K-State has been one of the more disciplined teams in the country, with only 27 penalties all season, the second-fewest among FBS programs. Colorado, by contrast, has been flagged 66 times, which ranks 129th out of 138 teams.
The Buffaloes also lead the country in turnovers, while Kansas State has struggled to create them.
There’s also the matter of atmosphere around Colorado, where Deion Sanders has been dealing with national attention after something his personal videographer said on a podcast forced him to address it during Monday’s press conference. Some people view Sanders as being on the hot seat, though his buyout remains large.
On the field, Colorado’s quarterback situation has been unstable too. The Buffs already changed starters this season, moving from former five-star Julian Lewis to Utah transfer Isaac Wilson. Wilson has completed 60.2% of his passes for 979 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions in four weeks, and he’s thrown multiple interceptions in each of the last three games.
Even so, Colorado showed some fight against Utah. The Buffs scored all of their points in the second half, including 17 in the third quarter, and briefly led after a field goal with 4:24 left in that period before falling 27-24. They also held Utah to 131 rushing yards and forced two interceptions.
Their defense has given them a chance more often than not. Colorado allows 138.6 rushing yards per game, ranks fifth in the Big 12 in sacks and seventh in the nation in tackles for loss.
Oddsmakers have this one tight, with Colorado listed by 1 point. The total is 47 1/2, and the money line has Kansas State at -102 and Colorado at -118.
Prediction: Colorado 24, Kansas State 17
Kansas State is headed into its third starting quarterback in as many weeks, and that’s a brutal place to be, especially with so little separating these two teams. Colorado has dropped five straight and has been stuck against Northwestern, Texas Tech, Utah and Oklahoma State during that stretch, but home field and a vulnerable Wildcats roster make this a spot where the Buffaloes can finally cash in.
In Other News...
Kansas State Now Faces A Big 12 Future Without Brett Yormark
Brett Yormarks decision to step away after helping steer the Big 12 through a dramatic stretch leaves Kansas State looking at a conference future shaped by someone elses hand. Since taking over in August 2022, Yormark has been a central figure in the leagues rapid changes, from finalizing major media rights deals to helping expand the conference to 16 teams, while also locking in tournament extensions and sponsorships that gave the Big 12 more stability and reach.
For Kansas State, the timing matters as much as the news itself. Yormark will remain in place through January 2027, which means the Wildcats will still see him around as the league keeps moving through this transformed era, but the bigger question is what comes next once that chapter closes. Big 12 leadership praised his work and leadership during a period of major growth, and now the conference has to figure out how to carry that momentum forward without the commissioner who helped define it. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Is Sending An Early Recruiting Message For Kansas State
Kansas State is already planting seeds for the future, and early recruiting coordinator Collin Klein is making sure the Wildcats are in the conversation with some of the youngest prospects in the pipeline. The latest round of offers has stretched into the 2028 class and beyond, including linebacker Ak Mekaowulu out of McKinney Boyd High School in Texas, along with a growing list of players at multiple positions as the staff keeps casting a wide net.
For Kansas State, these early offers are as much about relationships as they are about evaluation. The Wildcats have been active with players such as Israel Johnigan, Ashton Tayler and Jayden Stephens, signaling that Klein and the staff are working well ahead of the usual recruiting calendar to establish trust with future classes. It is still very early, but the message is clear enough for anyone watching how Kansas State wants to build its next wave of talent. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Catching Colorado At A Brutal Time For Deion
Colorado is heading into this matchup with Kansas State in a rough place, and the timing only adds to the pressure on Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes have dropped five straight and sit at 2-5 overall, including 0-4 in Big 12 play, while backup quarterback Isaac Wilson is expected to start again because of a medical emergency involving Julian Lewis.
Sanders has already acknowledged how difficult the skid has been and said the program needs to get better, but the larger question hanging over Boulder is where things go from here. A visit from Kansas State now comes with the stakes feeling a little sharper, because every loss is starting to chip away at the confidence around a team that has not found its footing in league play. [Read more 🡒]