Colorado Ends Five-Game Skid With Overtime Win Over Kansas State

Colorado defeated Kansas State 27-24 on Saturday in overtime to end a five-game losing streak. The Buffaloes improved to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12, while the Wildcats fell to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The decisive play came when quarterback Isaac Wilson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Williams in the extra period.

Kansas State tied the game late in regulation with 2 seconds remaining. Quarterback Blake Barnett threw a 3-yard pass to Garrett Oakley for the touchdown. The Wildcats trailed 21-14 with 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter but executed a six-play drive to force the tie. Coach Collin Klein chose to attempt a field goal rather than go for two points on the next play, sending the game to overtime.

Running back Richard Young had his most productive game of the season. He carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 120 yards, including 14 yards in overtime. Young scored from 2 yards out in the first half and ran 22 yards for a touchdown with 12:27 left in the fourth quarter to give Colorado a 21-14 lead. He had never carried the ball 10 times in a game before Saturday.

Linebacker Gideon Lampron led the Colorado defense with 15 stops, four tackles for loss, and two of the team's five sacks. Lampron said the team was ready to make a stop in regulation but accepted the overtime format. “It’s been a rough stretch, but we’re back on track now,” Lampron said.

Colorado won the overtime coin flip and chose to defend. The Wildcats stalled at their own 7-yard line. Kicker Luis Rodriguez kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Kansas State its first lead of the overtime period. Colorado then moved the ball and Wilson connected with Williams for the winning score. Williams caught only one pass in the game.

Kansas State kicker Luis Rodriguez missed his first two field goal attempts of the game. He missed from 49 yards in the first half and from 43 yards with 6:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes rushed for 222 total yards. JaQuail Smith broke a 7-7 tie in the third quarter with a 47-yard rushing touchdown. Tight end Linkon Cure responded for Kansas State with a 33-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders praised the offensive balance. “I wanted him to have a chance to run the ball today and he proved that he could,” Sanders said regarding Young. Sanders noted that the rushing attack allowed Wilson to remain calm and make accurate throws, particularly the final touchdown pass.

Kansas State will host Oklahoma State on Saturday. Colorado will travel to face Arizona State on the same day. The Wildcats had previously used Dillon Duff as their starting quarterback, but he was replaced by Barnett after three-and-out drives in the first three possessions of the game.