Deion Sanders’ aspirations for the College Football Playoff took a significant hit as his Colorado Buffaloes fell to Kansas on the road with a score of 37-21. The defeat complicates Colorado’s path to the Big 12 Conference Championship and the 12-team playoff.
The Buffaloes, now standing at 8-3, faced a challenging start, slipping into a 17-0 deficit early in the game at Arrowhead Stadium, where 56,470 fans were in attendance. Kansas dominated the first half by retaining possession and scoring on their first seven drives, driven by running back Devin Neal, who had an impressive game with 207 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Despite the loss, Colorado’s Travis Hunter showcased his talent, recording eight receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, keeping his Heisman Trophy candidacy alive. However, this defeat complicates Colorado’s standings. The Buffaloes were positioned 16th in the playoff rankings and were tied with BYU for the conference lead before the match.
With BYU’s loss to Arizona State, several teams now share the top spot in the Big 12 with a 6-2 conference record, including Arizona State and potentially Iowa State. The tiebreaking scenarios may pose a challenge for Colorado, especially since they have yet to face these contenders. A win in their upcoming match against Oklahoma State is crucial for their title aspirations.
The postseason picture for Colorado looks dire, as even a championship win may not assure them a playoff berth due to the rankings landscape. The top five conference champions receive automatic playoff spots, and a three-loss Big 12 champion could struggle to rank higher than champions from other conferences.
Kansas also made history with this victory, becoming the first team with a losing record to defeat three ranked opponents consecutively. With the struggles Colorado faces, their trajectory remains uncertain. However, the resiliency shown by key players like Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders offers a glimmer of hope. If Colorado can regroup and secure a victory in their final regular-season game, they still have a chance to keep their playoff dreams alive.
In conclusion, while the loss to Kansas stings, it presents Colorado with an opportunity for reflection and growth ahead of their crucial matchup against Oklahoma State. Fans can take solace in the potential for redemption and the excitement that the coming weeks may bring.