US LBM Coaches Poll: BYU loss paints picture for all Big 12 playoff hopefuls
The latest US LBM Coaches Poll is here and Paul Myerberg explains the impact of BYU’s loss to Kansas in week 12
Sports Pulse
Deion Sanders’ push for the playoff suffered a punch to the gut.
His Colorado football team lost on the road against Kansas on Saturday, 37-21, damaging the Buffaloes‘ bid to get into the Big 12 Conference championship game and earn a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Colorado (8-3) fell into a 17-0 hole in the second quarter and never recovered in front of announced crowd of 56,470 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Kansas made it nearly impossible for the Buffaloes to catch up by hogging the ball and scoring on its first seven possessions – four by running back Devin Neal and three field goals by kicker Tabor Allen
Neal had 207 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving as Kansas (5-6) won its third consecutive game against a ranked team – the first time in major college football history that a team with a losing record has beaten three straight ranked teams.
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter still kept his Heisman Trophy hopes alive with eight catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
But this loss hurts the Buffs even if it doesn’t totally doom their Big 12 title hopes quite yet. They entered the game at 16th in the playoff rankings and tied for first place in the Big 12 with BYU.
After BYU lost Saturday at Arizona State, 28-23, several teams will be tied for first place with 6-2 league records – BYU, Colorado, Arizona State and possibly Iowa State if the Cyclones beat Utah on Saturday night.
But because Colorado has not played any of those teams, the tiebreaking process could get complicated and the Buffs might need more than a win in their regular-season finale Friday at home against Oklahoma State.
Here’s how the Kansas-Colorado game unfolded.
Even if the Buffs still get into the Big 12 title game and win it, this loss hurts their CFP standing because only the five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic playoff berths. The other seven berths go to at-large teams based on their ranking. A Big 12 champion with three losses might not rank higher than the champs of five other leagues – the American Athletic, Mountain West, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences. For example, No. 19 Army or No. 20 Tulane could win the AAC and outrank a Big 12 champ with three losses. League leaders from the four other leagues already outrank Big 12 rankings leaders BYU and Colorado.
- No. 2 Ohio State 38, No. 5 Indiana 15
- No. 3 Texas 31, Kentucky 14
- No. 4 Penn State 26, Minnesota 25
- No. 7 Alabama at Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 8 Georgia 59, UMass 21
- Florida 24, No. 9 Ole Miss 17
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 42, Wake Forest 14
- No. 11 Tennessee 56, UTEP 0
- No. 12 SMU 33, Virginia 7
- No. 14 Texas A&M at Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 16 Clemson 51, Citadel 14
- No. 19 South Carolina 56, Wofford 12
- No. 21 Iowa State at Utah, 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 22 Arizona State 28, No. 15 BYU 23
- No. 23 UNLV 27, San Jose State 16
- Cincinnati at No. 25 Kansas State, 8 p.m. ET
Kansas senior running back Devin Neal had quite the Senior Day, rushing for 207 yards on 37 carries with three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in his final “home game” for the Jayhawks.
This one looks like it’s over for Colorado. The Buffaloes faced fourth down and 21 yards to go and failed to convert when quarterback Shedeur Sanders scrambled to find an open receiver and threw an incomplete pass to the end zone.
Kansas leads 37-21 with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks will now try to keep doing what they’ve been doing – hog the ball and run out the clock.
Kansas has possessed the ball for 33:49, compared to 19:49 for Colorado.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders could be lucky that he was not ejected in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against Kansas.
The No. 18 Buffaloes signal-caller appeared to lose his cool and shove head official Kevin Mar following a potentially missed call after he was hit, forcing a three-and-out for Colorado as it trailed the Jayhawks. Sanders appeared to throw a one-handed shove at the official after getting up, but no penalty flag was thrown.
Mike Pereira, the rules analyst at FOX Sports, said Sanders was lucky he wasn’t ejected for his actions. — Ehsan Kassim
Kansas running back Devin Neal has carried the Jayhawks on his back Saturday and now has helped extend their lead over Colorado to 37-21 with 11:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Neal has scored four touchdowns – the latest coming on a 2-yard run after helping KU’s drive stay alive with a 1-yard fourth down conversion to the CU 9-yard line.
Kansas has scored on all seven of its possessions – four touchdowns by Neal and three field goals by Tabor Allen.
Kansas is threatening to score again after three quarters of play with a 30-21 lead. The Jayhawks have scored six times in six possessions – three field goals by Tabor Allen and three touchdowns by running back Devin Neal.
They will open the fourth quarter with the ball at the Colorado 18-yard line on second down. Neal has 148 yards on 25 carries.
Kansas has had the ball six times in this game against Colorado and has scored on every possession, the latest coming on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Devin Neal with 7:18 left in the third quarter. Kansas now leads 30-21.
Neal, a senior from Lawrence, Kansas, has 22 carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns – two rushing, one receiving.
Colorado junior two-way star Travis Hunter has racked up 115 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Hunter punctuated his latest, a 26-yard TD from senior quarterback Shedeur Sanders, with a Heisman pose.
Travis Hunter does it again for Colorado. This time he reeled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to help cut Kansas’ lead to 23-21 with 11:59 left in the third quarter.
Hunter, Colorado’s two-way star, was open near the Kansas 8-yard line on second down before catching the ball and taking it into the left side of the end zone.
Hunter has six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. It was Colorado’s first possession of the second half after scoring on two of their final three possessions of the first half.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders has three sons — Deion Jr., Shilo and Shedeur. He also has two daughters — Deiondra and Shelomi.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s senior quarterback and son of Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, has completed 12-of-13 passes for 157 yards and two touchdown passes after one half against Kansas. Additionally, he’s Colorado’s leading rushing with 23 yards on two carries.
- BYU 9-1, 6-1
- Colorado 8-2, 6-1
- Arizona State 8-2, 5-2
- Iowa State 8-2, 5-2
- Baylor 6-4, 4-3
- Kansas State 7-3, 4-3
- TCU 6-4, 4-3
- Texas Tech 6-4, 4-3
- West Virginia 5-5, 4-3
- Cincinnati 5-5, 3-4
- Kansas 4-6, 3-4
- Houston 4-6, 3-4
- UCF 4-6, 2-5
- Arizona 4-6, 2-5
- Utah 4-6, 1-6
- Oklahoma State 3-7, 0-7
Buffaloes
- Passing: Shedeur Sanders 12-13, 157 yards, 2 TD
- Rushing: Shedeur Sanders 2 carries, 23 yards
- Receiving: Travis Hunter 4 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Jayhawks
- Passing: Jalon Daniels 10-16, 143 yards, TD
- Rushing: Devin Neal 14 carries, 88 yards, TD
- Receiving: Devin Neal 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
Kansas appeared nearly unstoppable in the first half against Colorado, having scored every time they had the ball in the first half to take a 23-14 halftime lead.
But three of those scores were field goals by Tabor Allen.
And that might not be enough to keep Colorado from mounting a comeback in the second half.
The latest score came on a 25-yard field goal from Allen with seven second left before halftime.
Colorado still has momentum on offense and gets the ball back to start the second half. The Buffaloes have scored touchdowns on two of their last three possessions and have gotten four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown from two-way star Travis Hunter.
Kansas had the ball for 21:01 in the first half, compared to 8:59 for Colorado.
Shedeur Sanders has completed 12 of 13 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Colorado now appears to be warming up after getting two touchdowns in its last two possessions, cutting Kansas’ lead to 20-14 with 1:51 left in the first half. Freshman receiver Drelon Miller scored the latest touchdown on a 19-yard pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Miller has three catches for 40 yards. Sanders has completed 12 of his first 13 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Travis Hunter, Colorado’s do-everything Heisman Trophy candidate, has four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as the first half winds down. On defense, Hunter has three tackles.
How big of an egg is the Colorado defense laying against Kansas? A pretty big one so far, considering what’s at stake with College Football Playoff hopes still burning.
Kansas is now up 20-7 with 3:47 left in the first half after getting a 23-yard field goal from kicker Tabor Allen.
The 69-yard drive and was keyed by a 47-yard run by running back Devin Neal down the right sideline to the Colorado 8-yard line.
Kansas has scored on all four of its possessions so far: two touchdowns from Neal and two field goals by Allen.
Lance Leipold has been Kansas’ head coach since 2021. Before arriving at Kansas, Leipold spent six seasons at Buffalo, where he compiled a 37-33 record.
Travis Hunter has come to the rescue for Colorado. The two-way star caught a pass from Shedeur Sanders near the 50-yard line and raced down the right sideline for a 51-yard touchdown with 7:18 left in the first half. Colorado now trails 17-7.
Shedeur Sanders has completed eight of nine passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas is on a roll with three scores on its first three possessions against Colorado after beating two ranked teams in a row before Saturday. The Jayhawks lead 17-0 with after getting a 9-yard touchdown run from Devin Neal, who practically walked into the left side of the end zone with 9:02 left before halftime.
Their latest drive went eight plays for 61 yards.
Colorado has had the ball only twice, one that ended on a punt and another that ended when the Buffaloes were stopped on fourth down.
Kansas’ home finale against Colorado is being played at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, on Saturday. The Jayhawks have been playing conference games at Arrowhead as their stadium is renovated.
Colorado ends the first quarter having run only eight plays for 35 yards on two possessions.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has completed five of six passes for 23 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Two-way star Travis Hunter has one catch for one yard.
“Obviously, we gotta turn it on,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders told Fox after the first quarter. Sanders also said, “We got time.”
The Buffaloes will start the second quarter in the middle of their second drive of the game at the Kansas 42-yard line.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is 4 for 5 for 75 yards and a touchdown from the pocket, and has an additional 20 yards rushing at the 2:39 mark of the first quarter.
How poorly has Colorado started this game against Kansas? Count the ways. The Buffaloes trail 10-0 with 2:39 left in the first quarter. The Jayhawks have scored twice on their first two possessions, the latest coming on a 24-yard field goal by kicker Tabor Allen.
Kansas has seven first downs in their first 18 plays.
Colorado has had the ball only once and punted after running three plays for six yards.
Kansas has possessed the ball for 11:02, compared to 1:19 for Colorado.
Shedeur Sanders completed two of three passes during the Buffaloes’ first possession, but Colorado was unable to pick up a first down and went three and out. Kansas gets the ball back up 7-0.
- Aug. 29: vs. North Dakota State, W 31-26
- Sept. 7: at Nebraska, L 28-10
- Sept. 14: at Colorado State, W 28-9
- Sept. 21: vs. Baylor, W 38-31 in OT
- Sept. 28: at UCF, W 48-21
- Oct. 12: vs. Kansas State, L 31-28
- Oct. 19: at Arizona, W 34-7
- Oct. 26: vs. Cincinnati, W 34-23
- Nov. 9: at Texas Tech, W 41-27
- Nov. 16: vs. Utah, W 49-24
- Nov. 23: at Kansas, 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX
- Nov. 29: vs. Oklahoma State, noon ET on ABC
Colorado is off to another slow start. On the game’s first possession, Kansas running back Devin Neal caught a screen pass from quarterback Jalon Daniels and then raced down the left sideline and into the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown. Kansas is up 7-0 with 11:44 left in the first quarter.
The drive went six plays for 73 yards.
- Kickoff is Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
- The Colorado-Kansas game will be broadcast on FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams on the call.
Colorado vs. Kansas odds, line
The Colorado Buffaloes are favorites to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024 offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024.
- Spread: Colorado (-2.5)
- Moneyline: Colorado (-150); Kansas (+125)
- Over/under: 59.5
College football predictions Week 13
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for this week’s ranked games.
Colorado vs. Kansas weather
The game time temperature in Kansas City is expected to be in the high 50s with partly sunny skies, according to AccuWeather. Winds are forecast to come out of the south-southeast at about 10 mph.
Colorado vs. Kansas predictions
Here’s who our staff is predicting will win this matchup, and other Top 25 games for this week:
- Dan Wolken: Kansas
- Eddie Timanus: Kansas
- Erick Smith: Kansas
- Jordan Mendoza: Colorado
- Paul Myerberg: Kansas
- Scooby Axson: Kansas
How can Colorado clinch a berth in the Big 12 championship game?
The Buffs are tied with BYU for first place in the Big 12 with 5-1 league records. Winning today and next Friday at home against Oklahoma State (3-7) would get them into the Big 12 title game.
They also could clinch a spot in the title game today with a win against Kansas and some help from others, namely wins today by BYU and Utah against two teams tied for second place with 5-2 league records: Arizona State and Iowa State.
How can Colorado get a College Football Playoff berth?
The five highest ranked conference champions get an automatic playoff berth, along with seven at-large teams. If the Buffs win their final two regular-season games and the Big 12 championship, they would get into the playoff under the current rankings. If they rank as one of the four highest-ranked conference champs, they would earn a first-round bye and start the playoffs in the quarterfinals on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, possibly in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowls.
The Buffs are 16th in the current playoff rankings and would move up if they won the Big 12, though it’s not clear how much they’d climb.
A loss in their next two or three games could drop them out of playoff contention and possibly into the non-playoff Holiday or Alamo Bowls Dec. 27 or Dec. 28.
Follow all the big news at Colorado this week
Colorado vs. Kansas all-time record
This will be the 71st meeting between the Buffaloes and Jayhawks. Colorado leads the series 42-25-3. Kansas won the last matchup, 52-45, on Nov. 6, 2010.
Kansas schedule 2024
- Aug. 29: vs. Lindenwood, W 48-3
- Sept. 7: at Illinois, L 23-17
- Sept. 13: vs. UNLV, L 23-20
- Sept. 21: at West Virginia, L 32-28
- Sept. 28: vs. TCU, L 38-27
- Oct. 5: at Arizona State, L 35-31
- Oct. 19: vs. Houston, W 42-14
- Oct. 26: at Kansas State, L 29-27
- Nov. 9: vs. Iowa State, W 45-36
- Nov. 16: at BYU, W 17-13
- Nov. 23: vs. Colorado, 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX
- Nov. 30: at Baylor, TBD
Offense
- QB: Shedeur Sanders, SR
- RB: Isaiah Augustave, SO
- WR: Will Sheppard, GR
- WR: Terrell Timmons Jr., JR
- WR: Travis Hunter, JR
- WR: LaJohntay Wester, SR
- TE: Sav’ell Smalls, SR
- RT: Phillip Houston, JR
- RG: Justin Mayers, SR
- C: Cash Cleveland, FR
- LG: Tyler Brown, JR
- LT: Jordan Seaton, FR
Defense
- DE: B.J. Green, SR
- DT: Amari McNeill, JR
- DT: Chidoze Nwankwo, SR
- DE: Samuel Okunlola, SO
- ILB: Nikhai Hill-Green, GR
- ILB: LaVonta Bentley, GR
- CB: Travis Hunter, JR
- S: Shilo Sanders, GR
- S: Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, SR
- CB: D.J. McKinney, SO
- NB: Isaiah Hardge, FR
Specialists
- P: Mark Vassett, SR
- K: Alejandro Mata, JR
Offense
- QB: Jalon Daniels, JR
- RB: Devin Neal, SR
- WR: Luke Grimm, SR
- WR: Lawrence Arnold, SR
- WR: Quentin Skinner, SR
- TE: Jared Casey, SR
- RT: Logan Brown, JR
- RG: Kobe Baynes, JR
- C: Bryce Foster, JR
- LG: Michael Ford Jr., SR
- LT: Bryce Cabeldue, SR
Defense
- DE: Jereme Robinson, SR
- DT: DJ Withers, JR
- DT: Caleb Taylor, SR
- DE: Sean Miller, JR
- HAWK: Jayson Gilliom, JR
- LB: Cornell Wheeler, SR
- LB: JB Brown, SR
- CB: Cobee Bryant, SR
- S: Marvin Grant, SR
- S: O.J. Burroughs, SR
- CB: Mello Dotson, SR
Specialists
- P: Damon Greaves, SO
- K: Tabor Allen, SR
The top 10 once again looks a little different in the new US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 12. The shuffling, however, didn’t reach the apex of the rankings. No. 20 Tulane and No. 22 Arizona State head the group of four teams moving into the Top 25. No. 23 UNLV and No. 24 Memphis also return. Kansas State narrowly hangs on to the No. 25 spot after its loss to Arizona State. Review the details from the latest rankings. — Eddie Timanus
Tensions are high and controversy is ramping up around the College Football Playoff rankings with less than three weeks left before the field is set on Selection Sunday.
Part of this week’s debate centered on the status of Indiana, which has a schedule short on quality opponents but long on victories. The other flash point comes with regard to the possibility of Boise State earning a first-round bye as one of the four highest-rated conference champions.
Listen to this week’s podcast with Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg here.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com