Folsom Field Set: Injured Wildcats Face Stagnant Buffs in Noon Kickoff

The game starts at noon Saturday at Folsom Field.

Kansas State travels to Boulder to face Colorado in a Big 12 matchup that pits a defense under pressure against a quarterback room in disarray. The Buffs hold a 2-5 record with a 0-4 conference mark. The Wildcats sit at 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference. Colorado leads the all-time series 45-22-1. Kansas State won the last meeting 24-14 in Manhattan last year.

Kansas State head coach Colin Klein faces a complex situation at the quarterback position. All four quarterbacks on the roster are dealing with injuries. Starting quarterback Avery Johnson is listed as day-to-day after missing his first career start at Arizona State. Klein described the personnel situation as crazy. Blake Barnett, a former Erie High School player, is a potential starter. Barnett grew up near Boulder and could see action if the Wildcats need a spark.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders addressed off-field noise this week. He clarified that a comment by Christopher Neely, a YouTuber and friend, about paying critics $50,000 to stay silent for a year was a joke. The on-field performance has drawn criticism. The Buffs started 3-0 in 2023 and went 9-4 in 2024. Since then, the team has struggled to maintain consistency. Sanders has been the highest-paid coach in the Big 12, a fact that contrasts with the team’s current results.

Klein returns to Colorado for his first game as a head coach. He played quarterback at the University of Colorado and later at Kansas State. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012 when Kansas State won the Big 12 title. The Wildcats lost 28-17 to Arizona State last week in Tempe. They seek momentum in a conference where they have been inconsistent. The weather is forecast to be 63 degrees and cloudy with a chance of showers.

Staff predictions are split on the outcome. Kyle Newman projects a Kansas State 20, Colorado 17 victory. He cites Colorado’s lack of discipline and special teams errors. Troy Renck predicts Kansas State 23, Colorado 20. He argues the Buffs have not shown they can play four quarters of mistake-free football. Sean Keeler sees a Colorado 23, Kansas State 21 win. He points to Colorado’s home performance and the Wildcats’ uncertainty. Nate Peterson forecasts Kansas State 28, Colorado 24. He notes that Colorado leads the Big 12 in penalties and must avoid self-inflicted wounds to win.

The betting line at BetMGM lists Colorado as a 2.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 46.5 points. The game will air on TNT and on 850 AM and 94.1 FM radio. Colorado fans are watching for signs of improvement in the second half of the season. The Buffs have not won in the conference this year. Kansas State has one conference victory. The outcome will determine the trajectory for both programs in the remaining weeks of the regular season.