Colorado Football Earns First Big 12 Win in Over a Year, Beats Kansas State 27-24 in Overtime

The Colorado Buffaloes football team has gone an entire calendar year without a Big 12 win. That was until Saturday.

Isaac Wilson threw for 185 yards and an 11-yard game-winning touchdown to Charlie Williams as Colorado escaped with a 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State.

The Wildcats (4-4) put up a fight in the final minute, marching down the field to tie the game at 21. K-State came to Boulder missing its top two quarterbacks, and still went toe-to-toe with the Buffs. The dog fight went all the way to the end. For Deion Sanders, this was a must-win game, snapping a five-game losing streak. At this point in the season, the Buffs (3-5) need all the help they can get. Even if that's a final possession game in overtime.

Kansas State opened the week with the third-worst run defense in the Big 12. Needless to say, Colorado took advantage of the gap in the Wildcats' defense, rushing for 209 yards, which was the most all year. Coach Prime and his staff called a perfect game toward the end, feeding Alabama transfer RB Richard Young, who had 24 carries for 120 yards and two scores. His first two touchdowns at Colorado, including a 22-yard run to put Colorado up 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Jaquail Smith also had a great game for the Buffs. He finished with eight carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Colorado's defense did what they do best and kept the game close. After playing against elite QBs in consecutive weeks, the Buffs remained close with the Cats.

Dillon Duff started the game for Kansas State but was replaced by Blake Barnett after just three drives, which resulted in two yards. Barnett, a fourth-string passer from nearby Erie, Colorado, threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns. For Colorado defensive coordinator Chris Marve, this was a difficult task to prepare for an unknown quarterback situation. He did a great job dialing up plays and adjusting on the fly.

Colorado nearly took a 14-0 lead, but DeKalon Taylor's mistake prevented that from happening. The Buffs rusher fumbled just before he crossed the goal line with a touchback being the call on the field. Kansas State drove 80 yards to tie the game 7-7 before halftime. Both teams went at each other in the second half. But the Buffs fought harder to get their first conference win of the season.

Colorado heads back on the road next week at Arizona State (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).