Deion’s Colorado Buffs no longer control Playoff fate as Kansas continues Big 12 chaos

For the third week in a row, the Kansas Jayhawks not only chose chaos, but caused it. And that leaves the jumbled Big 12 Conference as confused as ever heading into the final week of the regular season.

Inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Jayhawks became the first team in college football history with a losing record to defeat three consecutive Top 25 teams by defeating Deion Sanders’ 16th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes 37–21.

Behind a dominant performance from senior running back Devin Neal, the Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) were ruthless on the ground, rushing for 331 yards on a Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2) defense that had its target found. foot in recent weeks. In his last home game, the local lad ensured the fans in crimson and blue would have a little too much excitement. Neal was responsible for 287 yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ upset.

For the first time since 1968, Kansas posted a three-game winning streak over ranked opponents. The Jayhawks’ late-season romp — which also included victories over Iowa State and BYU — has thrown the Big 12 further into chaos. Colorado’s four-game winning streak is over and the Buffaloes are no longer in control of their own destiny in reaching the conference title game.

Colorado now has to beat Oklahoma State at home next Friday and watch the scoreboard hoping for the right mix of results from BYU, Arizona State and Iowa State.

After the game, Sanders said Kansas wanted it more.

“We smoked ourselves,” Sanders said. “That’s up to me.”

Sanders later added: “They can’t stop reading the things about who we are. That’s difficult. So you try to humiliate everything around you, including yourself.”

But it was Kansas that humbled the Buffaloes on Saturday.

Even after the loss, Travis Hunter’s Heisman campaign got a boost. The most dynamic player in college football once again struck the Heisman pose in the back of an end zone. It’s becoming common for Colorado’s superstar two-way player, who racked up 125 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight receptions. Hunter surpassed the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season, tying a single-season school record. On defense, Hunter finished with seven total tackles and had two pass breakups that were near interceptions.

In a conference call with media members earlier this week, Hunter confirmed that he will declare for the NFL Draft after this season and plans to play both ways in the NFL. Hunter has been the frontrunner on most Heisman Trophy watchlists all year and has only added to that with his standout play in recent weeks.

Devin Neal with his FOURTH touchdown of the evening 💥

No FBS team with a losing record has ever won three straight games against ranked opponents, and Kansas is knocking on the door.

🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/ijrFRqyc2j

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 23, 2024

Devin Neal and Kansas couldn’t stop scoring

The Jayhawks scored on their first seven possessions of Saturday’s win over Colorado. Four of those were Neal touchdowns — three rushing, one receiving — and put KU in position to play spoiler again and turn the Big 12 title race around.

Only one other team has scored on their first seven possessions in a conference game this season, according to TruMedia: NC State in a 59-24 win against Stanford on Nov. 2.

Kansas was a trendy choice to play a role in the Big 12 race, but was face planted out of the starting blocks. After a frustrating start that included a five-game losing streak, Kansas roared back and looked a lot like the dynamic offense powered by two of the Big 12’s biggest stars last season on Saturday.

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Run the defense

Colorado was outside the top 100 in rush defense a year ago, but moved into the top 40 this season after the arrival of defensive coordinator Rob Livingston and an influx of defensive talent from the transfer portal.

It wasn’t pretty against a resurgent Kansas offense.

The Jayhawks ran for 331 yards and Neal often found himself in the second and third levels of the Buffaloes defense with runs of 31, 28 and 47 yards and a 51-yard catch on the Jayhawks’ opening touchdown drive. It didn’t suit the Buffs, who held the nation’s No. 2 rushing attack, UCF, to 177 yards on the Knights’ home field earlier this season. The Buffs also had not given up more than 185 yards in a game this season. But with a Big 12 title and a berth in the College Football Playoff within their grasp, the much-improved Colorado defense faltered.

“(The defense’s) rushing was alarming,” Sanders said. “You can’t win when a team rushes 300 yards at you.”

Sanders said Livingston played a good game, but the Buffaloes “have to do what he called.”

What does this mean for the Big 12 and the Playoff?

The Big 12 was already behind the 8-ball in the hunt for one of the Playoff’s top four seeds — Oregon, Texas, Miami and Boise State would claim them based on the selection committee’s current rankings — and the loss of Colorado will only damage the Big further. 12’s chances of a bye in the first round.

Could this lead to the Big 12 missing out on the Playoff entirely? Only the top five ranked conference champions make it. Colorado will likely drop several spots in the rankings after its loss. And No. 14 BYU lost its second straight game, 28-23, to No. 21 Arizona State on Saturday, sending the Cougars tumbling as well.

The loss of No. 19 Army against No. 6 Notre Dame could drop the Black Knights a few spots, but No. 20 Tulane – which is tied with Army for the American Athletic Conference lead – is lurking. Arizona State’s win could lead to the Sun Devils moving both teams up in next week’s Playoff rankings, which would leave the Big 12 in position to get the Playoff’s fifth automatic bid.

After Week 13, there is a four-way tie atop the Big 12 standings. Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Iowa State are all tied at 6-2 in conference play. With all four playing different opponents, the league could end up with a four-way tie at the top of the standings at the end of the season. If all four win next week and are tied at 7-2, Arizona State and Iowa State would play for the Big 12 title, according to the Big 12.

(Top photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)