Colorado Defeats Kansas State 27-24 in Overtime Behind Strong Ground Game

Colorado secured a hard-fought 27-24 victory over Kansas State in overtime on Halloween, leaning heavily on a dominant ground game to control the clock and secure the win. The Buffaloes ran the ball 43 times compared to just 21 passing attempts during the matchup. After the halftime break, Colorado established its rhythm by rushing 27 times for 132 yards.

The commitment to the run was especially apparent in the fourth quarter, where the team did not throw a single pass, instead calling 14 running plays for 58 yards. In overtime, Colorado handed the ball off on four consecutive plays before quarterback Isaac Wilson faked a handoff and threw the game-winning touchdown pass.

Wilson pointed to the success of the rushing attack as a key factor in keeping the offense steady. "He said, 'Coach, the running game is phenomenal. I don’t really have to do much,'" head coach Deion Sanders recalled of his quarterback's mid-game assessment. Sanders responded, "'That’s the point. That’s what we’ve been trying to do every game, every week.'"

A crucial moment in regulation came in the third quarter with the score tied 7-7, when JaQuail Smith broke free for a 47-yard rushing touchdown. Throughout the afternoon, Colorado frequently lined up in formations featuring three tight ends, a strategy that tight end Charlie Williams noted signaled their clear intention to run the ball effectively.

On the defensive side, lineman Yamil Talib delivered a standout performance with eight tackles and two of Colorado's five sacks, both coming in the first half. Kansas State quarterback Blake Barnett, a second-year player from Erie, Colorado, replaced Dillon Duff late in the first quarter and finished with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 224 yards and three touchdowns, including a late score with two seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

After Barnett's game-tying touchdown, Kansas State initially lined up to go for a two-point conversion before calling a timeout and ultimately opting for an extra point to send the game to an extra period. In overtime, defensive play stopped Kansas State in the end zone on third down, forcing the Wildcats to settle for a field goal before Colorado sealed the win.