CU Buffs Face 2-Point Hurdle Against Injured Kansas State

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders faces a critical test on Saturday when his team hosts Kansas State at Folsom Field. The Buffs enter the matchup as underdogs despite the Wildcats facing severe instability at the quarterback position.

Kansas State starter Avery Johnson is out, and backup Jacob Knuth, who is dealing with an ankle injury, remains a doubt. This leaves Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff, both little-used players, as the likely options to start. The situation mirrors the chaos of Colorado's 2020 game against the Saints, where running back Phillip Lindsay took the first snap and receiver Kendall Hinton attempted to play quarterback, resulting in a disastrous performance.

The betting line places Kansas State as a 2-point favorite. This suggests bookmakers have more confidence in Kansas State head coach Collin Klein than in Sanders. Klein is in his first season as a head coach. At 37, he is the youngest quarterback on the Kansas State sideline. He has never won a road game as a head coach.

The financial stakes are high for Sanders, who earns a $10 million salary. Klein makes $4.1 million this season. Colorado has lost five games in a row. The team is 5-15 in its last 20 games and 2-15 against Power Four conference teams since December 2024.

If Colorado loses this game, it will be the most winnable game on the remaining schedule. A loss would require the Buffs to win all remaining games to reach a bowl game. A loss would also fuel questions about whether Sanders should move forward with his fifth season.

Sanders has a $26 million buyout clause. Critics compare the current situation to the 2018 dismissal of Mike MacIntyre. MacIntyre was fired after a 31-7 home loss to Washington State, a result that cemented doubts about his status. Sanders has received more administrative support than MacIntyre, Mel Tucker, or Karl Dorrell, yet the results remain poor.

The Buffs must win to maintain belief in a roster turnover and improved discipline. If Sanders cannot defeat a team relying on its third or fourth-string quarterback, the argument for a new direction grows stronger. The outcome of Saturday's game will define the remainder of the season for the Colorado program.