Kansas State football secured a thrilling 31-28 victory over Colorado on Saturday night at Folsom Field in Boulder, clinching the win with a late touchdown and a defensive stop.
Quarterback Avery Johnson, who had thrown a crucial interception earlier in the fourth quarter that allowed Colorado to take the lead, rebounded by leading the Wildcats on a game-winning drive. He connected with DJ Giddens for a 34-yard gain and then passed to Jayce Brown for a 50-yard touchdown with just 2:14 remaining on the clock.
The K-State defense then made a vital stop on fourth down, halting a Colorado drive and allowing Johnson to take a knee to seal the victory.
Ranked No. 19 in the nation, Kansas State improved its record to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, while Colorado dropped to 4-2 and 2-1.
K-State’s offensive performance included a total of 423 yards, with Johnson completing 15 of 23 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Giddens also had a standout game, rushing for 182 yards on 25 carries. In contrast, Colorado gained 359 total yards; Shedeur Sanders completed 34 of 40 passes for 388 yards, but the team struggled with rushing, finishing with minus-29 yards primarily due to six sacks by the K-State defense.
As the game reached its climax, K-State cornerback Keenan Garber broke up a pass intended for Sanders on a critical fourth down, giving the ball back to the Wildcats with just over a minute left.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Colorado had narrowed K-State’s lead to three points with a touchdown run from Isaiah Augustave, and then took a brief lead thanks to a short touchdown pass from Sanders to LaJohntay Wester following a K-State interception.
K-State also managed to extend their lead in the third quarter with a 48-yard field goal from Chris Tennant, which capped a drive that was set up by a solid kickoff return.
The Wildcats initially fell behind in the first quarter after Colorado scored on a 25-yard pass from Sanders, but K-State responded with a touchdown run from Johnson to tie the game. Another touchdown run by Dylan Edwards put K-State in the lead before halftime.
Overall, Kansas State demonstrated resilience and strategic plays that helped them secure a hard-fought win against a competitive Colorado team.