Weather At Kansas State Forces Colorado Buffaloes' Offense Into Massive Change

Snowy conditions in Manhattan has the Colorado Buffaloes' offense looking a little different.

Adapting to the weather and the Kansas State Wildcats' biggest weakness, Colorado's offense has taken on a run-first mentality this Saturday. Offensive play-caller Brett Bartolone relied on his running backs and offensive line in the first half, with Dallan Hayden, Micah Welch and Dre'lon Miller accounting for 20 carries on Colorado's first 39 offensive plays. Plus, quarterback Kaidon Salter has seven rushing attempts for 13 yards.

The rushing attack hasn't exactly been effective, however. At the half, Colorado is averaging 3.1 yards per carry against a Kansas State defense that allowed 292 rushing yards against Utah last week. Hayden has accounted for 62 of the Buffs' 84 rushing yards, and Welch scored the Buffs' lone touchdown late in the second quarter.

According to The Weather Channel, it's just above freezing (34 degrees) in Manhattan at about noon CT. Snow hasn't accumulated much on the turf of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, but there have been flurries on and off in the first half. Wind gusts are clocking in at about 18 miles per hour to the northwest.

Colorado Hanging With Kansas State In Season Finale

Weather Kansas State Colorado Buffaloes Offense Adapt Snow Manhattan Bill Snyder Kaidon Salter Dallan Hayden Micah Welch Run — Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes running back Dallan Hayden (7) is tackled by Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Rex Van Wyhe (28) and safety VJ Payne (7) during the first quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

After coming into Manhattan as multi-score underdogs, Colorado has so far gone toe-to-toe with Kansas State in the first half. The Wildcats scored a touchdown on their first drive, courtesy of running back Joe Jackson, and later blocked an Alejandro Mata field goal.

Coach Deion Sanders gave Salter his ninth and final start in a CU uniform. Freshman Julian "JuJu" Lewis won't play on Saturday, allowing him to earn a redshirt.

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"You got to finish strong," Sanders said earlier this week. "It's almost like you got gas in the tank, but you got to have a full tank because you're running out. You're running out in the third or fourth (quarter) and making some mistakes that we can't recover from. That's not indicative to who we are, but it seems as though. We got to do better. I say that every week, but we gotta do better."

At 3-8 overall (1-7 Big 12) Colorado is playing for pride in its final game of Sanders' third season. Kansas State (5-6, 4-4 Big 12), meanwhile, can secure bowl eligibility with a win.

Colorado and Kansas State are tied 7-7 heading into the third quarter. On the defensive end, the Buffs battled through the first half snow to hold Kansas State to 114 yards of total offense, including just 43 rushing yards from standout running back Joe Jackson. Kansas State quarterback completed 5-of-8 passes for 55 yards in the first half.

Defensive back Preston Hodge leads Colorado with five total tackles, and three different Buffs recorded a tackle for loss (Tawfiq Byard, Keaten Wade and London Merritt).