Three Main Takeaways From the Colorado Buffaloes’ Final Loss of the Season

The Colorado Buffaloes entered their final matchup of the year with one last chance to flip the script on a difficult season. A road trip to Kansas State offered Colorado an opportunity to spoil the Wildcats’ bowl hopes and finish with positive momentum.

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) waits for the snap during the first quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

But in frigid, snowy conditions at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Colorado’s offense never heated up. Despite a gritty defensive performance, the Wildcats leaned on running back Joe Jackson in the fourth quarter to power past the Buffs 24–14 and secure postseason eligibility.

Here are three main takeaways from Colorado’s final game of the season.

No Quit in Coach Prime’s Buffs

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Antonio Martin Jr. (22) is tackled by Colorado Buffaloes safety John Slaughter (13) and cornerback Preston Hodge (4) during the first quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

The Buffs didn’t leave Manhattan with a win, but their resolve was impossible to overlook. Kansas State opened the game with a 14-play touchdown drive, yet Colorado’s defense immediately responded. Despite missing multiple key players — including cornerback Tawfiq Byard, who entered the game heavily wrapped and exited after one series — the Buffs repeatedly forced punts and kept the Wildcats from building an early cushion.

Offensively, Colorado broke through late in the second quarter with an 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown from running back Micah Welch. Fellow back Dallan Hayden also sparked the Buffs' offense with several big chunk plays, providing the CU offense with its best rhythm of the afternoon.

Colorado kept fighting deep into the fourth quarter. Another one-yard score from Welch would cut the deficit to 17–14 and set up a potential comeback, but Kansas State answered behind Jackson, who scored his third touchdown of the day to seal the win.

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Joe Jackson (4) runs by Colorado Buffaloes cornerbacks Preston Hodge (4) and Teon Parks (3) during the first quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

After the game, Deion Sanders praised his team’s effort:

“You got a team that won three darn games, and with five minutes left, you’re right there to win again.”

The Buffs showed this season that they can compete with quality opponents. The next step — and Sanders acknowledged this — is finding a way to finish those games with wins.

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The Most Important Piece of Colorado’s Future Didn’t Play Today

Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) scrambles in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

While Colorado showed grit, the most significant piece of their future didn’t even take the field. Freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the former five-star and current centerpiece of Colorado’s rebuild, sat out to preserve his redshirt season. In his place, Kaidon Salter finished with 172 passing yards but struggled in key moments, including a costly interception that ended a Buffs drive and flipped momentum.

At times, Lewis’s absence was a reminder of just how central he will be to Colorado’s future. Still, the Buffs’ offense found a way to move the ball — wide receiver Omarion Miller delivered a standout performance with seven catches for 120 yards — but couldn't find separation in the red zone. Those are situations where Lewis’s poise, processing, and accuracy are expected to make a real difference next season.

With Lewis stepping into the starting role in 2026, the Buffs anticipate a much higher ceiling — and far better execution.

Colorado showed flashes of offensive capability all season, but with Lewis at the helm full-time, they believe those flashes can turn into long-standing results.

Prime Turns the Page to the Offseason

Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Buffs finish the season 3–9, winless on the road, and riding a five-game losing streak. But their performance in Manhattan showed something Sanders has insisted on all year: his team hasn’t stopped competing.

Now, attention shifts to a critical offseason — one that Sanders himself has repeatedly emphasized the importance of.

“If anybody’s built to reconcile and get this thing back on course, it’s me," Sanders told the media after the game. "And I’m going to do it if it’s the last thing I do on earth, trust me when I tell you.”

Colorado heads into the next chapter with a strong young core, highlighted by Lewis, Miller, Hayden, and a group of underclassmen expected to return. Add the arrival of another portal cycle — one Sanders has vowed to handle differently — and the Buffs’ path forward is more defined than their record suggests.

A 3–9 season isn’t where Colorado expected to be. But the fight, flashes of growth, and the promise of a new era built around Lewis give the Buffs real reason to believe better days are coming.