Colorado’s path against Kansas State starts with one simple job: keep Blake Barnett from turning the game into a scramble drill.
That matters even more with the Buffaloes staring at a season-defining stretch. If they drop a sixth straight game, they’ll need to win out to stay alive for a bowl bid. And with Kansas State missing starting quarterback Avery Johnson and backup Jacob Knuth, the Wildcats are handing the keys to Erie, Colorado, native Blake Barnett.
Barnett is not being asked to win this game as a passer. His Kansas State usage has been almost entirely on the ground, with 16 carries across the 2025 and 2026 seasons for 43 yards. Most of that work came last season, when he logged 14 carries and never attempted a pass.
The run threat is nothing new for him. MaxPreps lists Barnett as a quarterback who was nearly a three-time 1,000-yard rusher starting in his sophomore year.
He went over 1,000 yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons, piling up 1,049 and 1,077 yards. Across those three years, he scored 65 rushing touchdowns, which is exactly the kind of red-zone problem Colorado has to account for.
The cleanest answer for the Buffaloes is to keep a spy on him. Colorado’s defensive front has had trouble at times finishing plays against quarterbacks this season, so adding a dedicated defender to track Barnett’s movement would give the defense a little more insurance.
That approach also fits the matchup Colorado has already faced this season. The Buffaloes’ secondary has had its issues, but it has gone against some of the Big 12’s better quarterbacks, including Devon Dampier of the No.
6 Utah Utes, Drew Mestemaker of the No. 24 Oklahoma State Cowboys and Aidan Chiles of the No.
20 Northwestern Wildcats. Barnett, though, brings far less experience as a thrower.
If Colorado can make Kansas State one-dimensional, the secondary gets a chance to answer for itself on Halloween.
There are a few players who could handle the spy assignment. Gideon ESPN Lampron and Randon Fontenette are both logical options, since they lead the team with 65 and 62 tackles, respectively.
Still, the strongest fit is Liona Lefau. Colorado’s green-dot linebacker showed why in Week 8 against Oklahoma State, when he looked like the most versatile linebacker on the field for the Buffaloes.
He did more than just plug run lanes. He also matched up in coverage and kept pace with the Cowboys’ receivers, something Lampron and even Colorado’s cornerbacks had trouble doing. That game showed off the speed Lefau brings to the defense.
If the Buffaloes put Lefau in that spy role, he gives them their best shot at closing fast on Barnett and keeping Kansas State’s quarterback run game under control.
In Other News...
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.
Barnetts role in that rally only sharpened the question of how Kansas State wants to handle the position moving forward. In a game decided by a handful of plays, the Wildcats found enough late energy to erase a deficit and force overtime, but the split approach under center leaves plenty to sort out as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Leaves Colorado With A Bigger Problem Than Another Loss
Kansas States trip to Colorado ended the same way too many of its recent Saturdays have, with another close loss and another reminder that the Wildcats are still searching for answers under first-year coach Chris Klieman. The 27-24 overtime defeat was their second straight and fourth in five games, a stretch that has left little margin for error as the season wears on.
The quarterback situation only added to the uncertainty. Sophomore Dillon Duff got the start, but Blake Barnett finished the game after the Wildcats made a switch and helped spark a late comeback attempt that fell just short. Colorado, meanwhile, finally got its first Big 12 conference win of the season, leaving Kansas State with more to sort through than the final score alone. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Turns To An Unknown QB In A Brutal Spot
Kansas State is making a major quarterback pivot at a difficult time, with Dillon Duff set to make his first career start against Colorado. Duff has not appeared in a collegiate game before this opportunity, and his path to the lineup has been slowed by a preseason injury that kept him out until he was recently cleared to play.
Collin Klein has sounded encouraged by what he has seen from Duff behind the scenes, pointing to his work ethic and decision-making as reasons the Wildcats are willing to trust him in a pressure-packed spot. For a team looking for stability at the most important position, this is a big leap of faith, and it will say plenty about where Kansas State stands in the quarterback room going forward. [Read more 🡒]