Colorado Hosts Injury-Hit Kansas State in Big 12 Matchup at Folsom Field

Colorado will try to snap a losing skid on Saturday when it hosts Kansas State at Folsom Field. Kickoff is at noon, with the game on TNT and on radio at 850 AM and 94.1 FM. The Buffaloes are 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, while the Wildcats are 4-3 and 1-3 in conference play.

BetMGM lists Colorado as a 2.5-point underdog, with the over/under set at 46.5. The forecast calls for 63 degrees and cloudy skies, with a chance of showers. Colorado leads the all-time series 45-22-1, but Kansas State won last year's meeting 24-14 in Manhattan.

The biggest question surrounding the game is at quarterback for Kansas State. All four of the Wildcats' quarterbacks are dealing with injuries. Head coach Colin Klein said Monday that starter Avery Johnson is "day-to-day" after missing his first career start last week at Arizona State with an unspecified injury. Klein described the state of the whole quarterback room as "crazy." One possible option is Blake Barnett, who played at Erie, a short drive from Boulder.

The game is also a homecoming for Klein, a former Loveland star. Kansas State hired Klein as head coach in December. Neither Colorado nor Colorado State recruited Klein as a dual-threat quarterback, but Kansas State did, and Klein went on to start for the Wildcats for two seasons. That run included a Big 12 title in 2012, when Klein was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Saturday marks Klein's head-coaching debut against the Buffaloes in Colorado. Kansas State arrives after a 28-17 loss at Arizona State.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has dealt with off-field noise this week. Sanders said a comment from friend and YouTuber Christopher Neely, who said Sanders would give critics "$50,000 to not mention my name for a year," was a joke. The Denver Post's coverage notes that Colorado has struggled badly since a 3-0 start in 2023 and a 9-4 bowl season in 2024.

The Post's staff leans toward Kansas State. Sportswriter Kyle Newman picked the Wildcats 20-17, citing Colorado's distractions and lack of discipline. Columnist Troy Renck went with Kansas State 23-20. Renck argued the Buffaloes have not played four disciplined quarters in the Big 12 and noted that this may be the most winnable game left on their schedule. A loss would leave them needing to win out to reach a bowl, which Renck called the floor expectation for a coach making $10 million. Renck also contrasted the Wildcats' quarterback issues with Colorado's own, pointing to Julian Lewis and Isaac Wilson.

Sports editor Nate Peterson also picked Kansas State, 28-24. Peterson pointed out that the Buffaloes lead the Big 12 in penalties and said they will not win again this season until they stop hurting themselves. Peterson added that fans want results from the conference's highest-paid coach rather than more off-field headlines.

Columnist Sean Keeler was the lone dissenter, taking Colorado 23-21. Keeler noted that Lewis is hurt, that most of the Kansas State quarterbacks are hurt, and that a Barnett start would make the Wildcats a true wild card. Keeler also said the Colorado defense has played its best football at home, and that the outcome may hinge on whether Wilson protects the ball.