Colorado finally gave their fans a winning finish Saturday, although the Buffaloes needed overtime after letting Kansas State drive for a tying touchdown in the final minute.
Isaac Wilson found Charlie Williams for an 11-yard touchdown to secure a 27-24 victory at Folsom Field. Colorado ended their five-game losing streak and improved to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play. Kansas State fell to 4-4.
The win gives Deion Sanders some relief after a difficult October. More importantly for the Buffaloes, they found a running game that supported Wilson and produced the decisive touchdown after their defense held Kansas State to a field goal in overtime.
Richard Young gives Colorado a reason to keep running
Young received the larger role Sanders promised during the week and delivered 120 yards and two touchdowns
on 24 carries.
His 2-yard touchdown finished a six-play, 60-yard opening scoring drive. Young later broke through the middle for a 22-yard touchdown, giving Colorado a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.
JaQuail Smith supplied another explosive play, running 47 yards for a third-quarter touchdown behind an important block from right tackle Leon Bell. Smith finished with 63 yards on eight carries.
Colorado rushed for a season-high 222 yards and finished with 407 total yards. After their backs managed 42 yards at Oklahoma State, the Buffaloes gave Wilson enough help to avoid putting the entire offense on his arm.
Wilson completed 14 of 21 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Joseph Williams caught five passes for 89 yards, while DeAndre Moore Jr. added three receptions for 60 yards.
Moore's 33-yard catch on third-and-nine helped Colorado move into Kansas State territory early in the third quarter. Later, a 38-yard tunnel screen to Joseph Williams helped set up Young's second touchdown.
The offensive line deserves credit for creating the space that made the rushing production possible. Colorado now has a performance worth building on rather than another week spent explaining why their backs could not get going.
Gideon Lampron and Yamil Talib lead a defense that makes the overtime stop
Kansas State arrived without quarterbacks Avery Johnson and Jacob Knuth. Dillon Duff started, but the Wildcats replaced him with Erie High School graduate Blake Barnett after three possessions.
Colorado's defense established pressure early. Yamil Talib recorded his first sack as a Buffalo, and the front continued disrupting Kansas State throughout the afternoon.
Talib finished with eight tackles and two sacks. Gideon Lampron recorded a game-high 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, with four tackles for loss and two sacks. Toby Anene and Immanuel Ezeogu combined for another sack, bringing Colorado's total to five.
The Buffaloes held Kansas State to 117 first-half yards, their lowest first-half allowance of the season. Barnett nevertheless gave the Wildcats enough offense to remain close, especially when he found room outside the pocket or connected with his tight ends.
After Smith's touchdown put Colorado ahead 14-7, Barnett answered with consecutive completions to Linkon Cure. The second became a 33-yard touchdown when Cure broke through Colorado defenders to the end zone.
Kansas State finished with 347 yards, including 121 rushing yards. The Buffaloes did not force a turnover, so they had to earn stops without the benefit of a takeaway.
Colorado throwing up 10 for Julian Lewis after the game 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/9cagw5A64v
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) October 31, 2026
Their most important stand came in overtime. Cree Thomas and Boo Carter broke up passes in the end zone, forcing Luis Rodriguez to kick a 25-yard field goal and giving Colorado a chance to win with a touchdown.
Wilson then delivered to Charlie Williams, who also caught the winning touchdown against Georgia Tech in the season opener.
Colorado's mistakes keep Kansas State within reach
The Buffaloes had opportunities to avoid overtime, beginning with DeKalon Taylor's second-quarter run toward the end zone.
Taylor broke loose for approximately 30 yards before fumbling near the goal line. The ball went through the end zone for a touchback, denying Colorado a chance to build a 14-0 lead.
Kansas State answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive, aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty. Barnett found Josh Manning for a 28-yard score, and the teams entered halftime tied 7-7.
Colorado also lost a third-down conversion before halftime to an illegal-man-downfield penalty. Later, pre-snap mistakes hurt a fourth-quarter possession when the Buffaloes needed to protect their seven-point lead.
Kansas State missed field goals from 44 and 43 yards, giving Colorado additional chances to separate. The Buffaloes still could not put together the late possession needed to finish regulation with the ball.
Barnett received one last opportunity with 55 seconds remaining. A 31-yard completion to Jaron Tibbs moved Kansas State to Colorado's 3-yard line, and Barnett eventually found Garrett Oakley for the touchdown in the final seconds.
The Wildcats initially lined up for a potential winning two-point attempt. After a Colorado timeout, coach Collin Klein chose the tying extra point and overtime.
That decision gave the Buffaloes another chance, and they finally finished. Colorado still needs cleaner late-game execution, but they leave Halloween with a victory and a path to bowl eligibility that requires three wins over their final four games.
Their next opportunity comes on the road at Arizona State.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football survives Kansas State scare to end losing streak
