MANHATTAN, Kan. — A miserable third season under Deion Sanders mercifully ended on a miserable day on the plains. 

With a wind chill below freezing under cloudy skies, Colorado (3-9, 1-8 Big 12) fell in the 2025 season finale by a final of 24-14 at Kansas State (6-6, 5-4) in the program’s first game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium since 2009.

That’s the worst record for the Buffaloes since Coach Prime was hired prior to the 2023 season. 

Here are three takeaways from the game:

Salter’s last start

The Buffs got the full Kaidon Salter appearance in the veteran quarterback’s final college football game.

The Liberty transfer got the start against K-State after Sanders decided to preserve Julian Lewis’ redshirt and sit the freshman quarterback in the season finale, and Salter showed some of the same highs and same lows that caused him to twice lose his starting spot during the year.

Salter was able to keep drives alive all afternoon and even helped CU outgain K-State, but he wasn’t able to convert those drives into points. A couple of incompletions and one untimely interception ended promising series. He finished 14-for-25 for 172 passing yards to go with 16 carries for 63 rushing yards.

The inconsistency from the quarterback position defined Saturday’s game — and the season as a whole. 

Buffs defense does its part

For the first time in weeks, Robert Livingston’s defense gave CU a chance to win.

The Buffs were able to control the line of scrimmage for much of the first three quarters and limited K-State quarterback Avery Johnson’s efficiency in the pocket, despite a still banged-up secondary.

The Buffs ran out of gas as K-State was able to put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive on the back of running back Joe Jackson (25 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns) that iced the game late in the fourth quarter. 

Much more disciplined effort

If there’s one stat that will make Coach Prime smile, it’s the zero penalties his team committed.

Penalties have been a recurring issue in Buffs losses during his tenure, especially in the second half of this season. It wasn’t the case Saturday.

Instead, it was K-State that was committing costly penalties with three of the Wildcats’ four penalties (for a total of 50 yards) coming on defense and extending Buffs offensive possessions.