CU Buffs opponent lookahead: Kansas State provides litmus test in Big 12
Undoubtedly the biggest game of the season to date awaits Deion Sanders and Colorado on Saturday night at Folsom Field.
The Buffaloes, off to a 4-1 start, are one of the more positive surprises from the first month of the season. They’re one of five remaining unbeaten teams in Big 12 play. But they believe they’ve played nowhere near their best football.
“We have a winning record, but we still aren’t where we want to be,” Coach Prime said in a team meeting Monday. “Y’all ain’t done nothing yet. We (are) supposed to do this. Quit acting like it’s a surprise. Y’all got much more in you.”
CU will get the chance to prove that this weekend when a legitimate Big 12 contender comes to Boulder in No. 18 Kansas State. If the Buffs can come away with a win, they’ll launch themselves into that tier of certified conference title contenders.
“I think they’re really balanced, honestly,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said. “They’ve rushed the football well, too. Shedeur (Sanders) throws it to the guy that’s open, reads coverage and knows where he’s going with the football.
“Nobody knows how this game is going to go so we have to have great fundamentals and technique.”
Here’s what to expect from the Wildcats team hoping to stand in the way of that:
Last time out
There will be no rest advantage this weekend.
Both teams are coming off a bye week and both are riding off big wins in Week 4. While the Buffs were putting a beat down on UCF in Orlando, K-State was handling its business at home against an Oklahoma State team that everyone thought coming into the season would challenge for the Big 12 title.
After a touchdown drive to open the game, the Wildcats sputtered and actually trailed 13-7 midway through the second quarter. But they ripped off two touchdown drives in the final seven minutes of the half on the way to scoring 35 unanswered points in a dominant, 42-20 win.
It was K-State’s most complete game of the year and came a week after a stunning blowout loss at BYU, who now looks like a real contender in the Big 12.
Against Oklahoma State, promising young quarterback Avery Johnson had five total touchdowns (three passing and two rushing) and over 300 total yards (259 passing, 60 rushing).
Star running back DJ Giddens had 187 yards on just 15 carries, including a 66-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Defensively, the Wildcats were able to limit the damage despite allowing nearly 500 yards of offense. They came up with three turnovers and held the Cowboys to field goals on two pivotal possessions in the first half.
On offense
Two weeks after facing the top rushing offense in the Big 12, the Buffs will now face the second-best rushing attack in the conference.
It all starts with Johnson, who is a dual-threat quarterback and has a pair of running backs to aid him in the run game. Giddens is one of several elite running backs in the Big 12 and CU transfer Dylan Edwards has also made an instant impact. Add in Johnson and K-State has three running backs with over 200 yards on the ground through five games.
Conversely, the Wildcats have just two receivers with over 100 yards and just one with over 165 in Jayce Brown. Johnson eclipsed 200 yards passing in a game for the first time all season in the win over Oklahoma State.
It’s all powered by a veteran offensive line filled with fourth- and fifth-year players like Durango native Carver Willis, the starting right tackle.
On defense
K-State is one of just four Big 12 teams allowing less than 20 points per game in 2024.
They’ve done it not by dominating opposing offenses, but limiting damage in crucial situations. The Wildcats have allowed just five touchdowns on 15 red zone trips. They’ve been stout against the run and vulnerable against the pass, but do rely on a talented and deep defensive line group that can get to the quarterback.
K-State ranks tied for first in the conference in sacks with 12, led by defensive Brendan Mott, who has four by himself.
The linebacker duo of Austin Moore and Austin Romaine is one of the best in the Big 12.
The Kansas State wildcats file
Record: 4-1 (1-1 Big 12)
Head coach: Chris Klieman (6th season)
Co-offensive coordinators: Matt Wells (1st season) and Conor Riley (6th overall, 1st as co-OC)
Defensive coordinator: Joe Klanderman (6th overall at KSU, 5th as DC)
Names to know: QB Avery Johnson, RB DJ Giddens, RB Dylan Edwards, OT Easton Kilty, OT Carver Willis, LB Austin Moore, LB Austin Romaine, DE Brendan Mott, CB Jacob Parrish
Betting line: Colorado +4.5, O/U 56.5 (ESPN Bet)
Buffs set for afternoon kickoff in the desert
The major television networks can’t get enough of Coach Prime and CU.
The Buffs’ Week 8 matchup at Arizona on Oct. 19 will kick off at 2 p.m. MT (1 p.m. local time) on FOX, the Big 12 announced Monday. It will be the seventh-straight game to start the season that will be broadcast on one of the three network stations (ABC, FOX and NBC) or ESPN’s flagship station.
It’s the second straight year CU will play an afternoon game in the state of Arizona after last year’s game at Arizona State kicked off at 4:30 p.m. MT.
This week’s game against Kansas State will kick off at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.
