Two former Massive 12 rivals will meet for the primary time in additional than a decade when No. 18 Kansas State heads to Colorado on Saturday in a recreation with convention championship implications. With the Buffaloes again within the Massive 12, the Wildcats are making their first journey to Boulder since 2010 as they search to derail the Buffs’ sizzling begin to the 2024 season beneath second-year coach Deion Sanders.
Each groups are coming off a bye after they every notched spectacular convention victories in Week 5. The Buffs improved to 4-1 (2-0 Massive 12) with a 48-21 win at UCF, whereas Ok-State reached 4-1 (1-1) with a 42-20 win over an Oklahoma State workforce that was anticipated to compete for the Massive 12 title.
The matchup is a distinction in kinds. The Wildcats want to run the soccer with an explosive again in DJ Giddens and cellular quarterback Avery Johnson. Colorado counters with one of many nation’s most pass-oriented offenses, led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders and a star solid of receivers.
Colorado is constructed on transfers, a handful of high-end talent gamers and the flash of Sanders, who is without doubt one of the most seen coaches within the sport. Kansas State is constructed on inside improvement and the understated management of sixth-year coach Chris Klieman. Given their stark variations and what’s at stake, it needs to be an intriguing end to the Week 7 slate.
Colorado vs. Kansas State: Must know
Travis Hunter’s Heisman case: Colorado has not one however two gamers ranked amongst CBS Sports activities’ High 100 2025 NFL Draft prospects in Sanders (No. 9) and athlete Travis Hunter (No. 1). On condition that he is an elite receiver and an elite cornerback, there is no such thing as a consensus over what Hunter might be on the subsequent degree. For now, he is electrical on either side of the soccer and has established himself as a Heisman Trophy contender. Hunter is a lockdown with 5 interceptions in 14 profession video games with the Buffaloes and a game-changing receiver who has amassed 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns in his time with this system. He’s a generational expertise who has made game-clinching performs on either side of the Buffaloes. This recreation presents yet one more alternative for him to construct his case to change into probably the most unconventional Heisman winner of the twenty first century.
Colorado vs. the run: Slowing down Kansas State’s run recreation might be key for Colorado because it seeks to maintain the Wildcats from dominating time of possession. The Wildcats torched Oklahoma State with 187 yards speeding from Giddens and 60 yards speeding from Johnson. Jadon Jackson and Dylan Edwards additionally contributed to the Wildcats’ 300-yard barrage on the bottom in a convincing win over the Cowboys. Although he isn’t Ok-State’s featured again, Edwards’ position will make for an excellent storyline. He was Colorado’s main rusher final season and caught 36 passes for the Buffs earlier than transferring to affix the Wildcats. Colorado is one in every of solely six faculties to not enable a 100-yard rusher this season, so this might be a key battle.
Kansas State vs. the go: Colorado ranks No. 9 nationally in passing offense at 326 yards per recreation, and Sanders has accomplished 70.1% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and simply three interceptions. Whereas Hunter is his favourite goal with 46 receptions for 561 yards, Sanders has a number of weapon at his disposal. Jimmy Horn Jr., LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard every have a minimum of 17 receptions and have every discovered the top zone a minimum of as soon as this season. Conserving tabs on so many playmakers might be a problem for the Wildcats’ protection. Whereas Kansas State did face and beat an Arizona workforce highlighted by a star receiver in Tetairoa McMillan and an Oklahoma State workforce with strong weapons corresponding to Brennan Presley, the Buffs are distinctive within the depth of their receiving corps.
How you can watch Colorado vs. Kansas State dwell
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12 | Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
Location: Folsom Area — Boulder, Colorado
TV: ESPN | Stay stream: fubo (Strive totally free)
Colorado vs. Kansas State prediction, picks
The final time Colorado confronted a workforce as well-rounded as Kansas State was in Week 2 when the Buffaloes took a loss at Nebraska. Ok-State will take a look at a Buffs run protection that has been strong so far, and the Wildcats even have the defensive depth required to carry serve towards Colorado’s robust offensive assault. If Johnson can restrict his turnovers — the Wildcats had been on the flawed finish of a 3-0 turnover deficit of their lone loss at BYU — then search for Kansas State to flee with a win. Decide: Kansas State -4
SportsLine’s confirmed laptop mannequin is asking for 10 outright upsets in Week 7 of faculty soccer. Go to SportsLine now to see all of them, plus get unfold picks for each recreation from the mannequin that simulates every recreation 10,000 occasions.
