In a game that might have an impact on the league championship race, Colorado will visit No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday, marking the first meeting between the two erstwhile Big 12 rivals in over ten years. The Wildcats are visiting Boulder for the first time since 2010 in an attempt to sabotage the Buffs’ explosive start to the 2024 campaign under head coach Deion Sanders, who is in his second year of coaching. The Buffaloes have returned to the Big 12.
After both teams recorded thrilling conference victories in Week 5, they both had a bye week. With a 48-21 victory at UCF, the Buffs moved to 4-1 (2-0 Big 12), while K-State defeated an Oklahoma State squad that was predicted to contend for the Big 12 title, 42-20, to move up to 4-1 (1-1).
The matchup features a stylistic disparity. With DJ Giddens as an explosive back and Avery Johnson as a mobile quarterback, the Wildcats prefer to run the football. Colorado’s offensive strategy, spearheaded by quarterback Shedeur Sanders and a talented group of wide receivers, is among the most pass-oriented in the country.
A few elite talent players, transfers, and the brilliance of Sanders—one of the most well-known coaches in the league—are the foundation of Colorado. The foundation of Kansas State is internal growth and sixth-year coach Chris Klieman’s quiet leadership. With all that’s at stake and their glaring disparities, the Week 7 slate should be exciting till the end.
Need to know Travis Hunter’s Heisman argument for Colorado vs. Kansas State:
Among CBS Sports’ Top 100 2025 NFL Draft prospects, Sanders (No. 9) and athlete Travis Hunter (No. 1) are two Colorado players. There’s no agreement on what Hunter will be at the next level because he’s an excellent cornerback and receiver. As of right now, he’s dominant on both sides of the ball and is a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Hunter is a game-changing receiver who has 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns in his tenure with the Buffaloes. He is a lockdown who has five interceptions in 14 career games. He is a player of a generation who has contributed plays that have won games for both teams.
Colorado vs. the run: In order to prevent the Wildcats from controlling the majority of the time of possession, Colorado will need to slow down Kansas State’s run game. With a combined rushing total of 187 yards from Giddens and 60 yards from Johnson, the Wildcats destroyed Oklahoma State. In addition, Jadon Jackson and Dylan Edwards helped the Wildcats defeat the Cowboys with a dominant 300-yard ground game. Edwards isn’t the star returning for K-State, but his involvement will provide an interesting plot point. Prior to moving to the Wildcats, he caught 36 passes for the Buffs and finished as Colorado’s top rusher the previous season. This will be a crucial game because Colorado is one of just six colleges not to have allowed a 100-yard rusher this year.
Kansas State versus the pass: With 326 yards per game, Colorado’s passing offense is ranked No. 9 in the country. Sanders has completed 70.1% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Sanders has a variety of weapons at his disposal, but Hunter is his favorite target with 46 receptions for 561 yards. This season, LaJohntay Wester, Will Sheppard, and Jimmy Horn Jr. have all at least 17 receptions and one touchdown each. It will be difficult for the Wildcats’ defense to keep up with so many playmakers. Even though Kansas State defeated teams from Oklahoma State with strong weapons like Brennan Presley and Arizona with Tetairoa McMillan as their standout receiver, the Buffs are unique in the depth of their receiving corps.
Prediction and choices for Colorado vs. Kansas State
The last time Colorado played a team with the depth of Kansas State, the Buffaloes lost at Nebraska in Week 2. The Buffs’ strong run defense will be put to the test against K-State, and the Wildcats have the defensive depth needed to stave off Colorado’s potent offensive attack. Look for Kansas State to come out on top if Johnson can control his turnovers. In their only loss against BYU, the Wildcats fell behind 3-0 in turnovers.