Honestly, if you'd told me five years ago that a mid-November clash between Boulder and Lawrence would be the center of the college football universe, I probably would’ve laughed. But here we are. The Colorado Buffaloes football vs Kansas Jayhawks football rivalry isn't just a relic of the old Big Eight anymore; it has morphed into a high-stakes chess match that defines the new-look Big 12.
You've got the flash of "Prime Time" and the gritty, developmental masterclass of Lance Leipold. It's a clash of cultures. It's also a game that, quite frankly, ruined some dreams recently.
The Day the Buffs Fumbled Destiny
Remember November 23, 2024? That was the day the narrative shifted.
The Colorado Buffaloes went into Arrowhead Stadium—the neutral-site home for Kansas that year—ranked No. 16 in the nation. They controlled their own path to the Big 12 Championship. Win out, and they’re in. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw wearing blue and crimson.
Devin Neal. Man, that guy was a problem. He didn't just run; he decimated the Colorado defense for 207 yards and four touchdowns. It was a clinic in old-school physical football against a Colorado team that seemed, as Deion Sanders put it, a bit too "bought into their own hype."
The final score was 37-21.
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Colorado had the superstars. Shedeur Sanders threw for 266 yards. Travis Hunter, doing his usual Ironman thing, caught eight passes for 125 yards and two scores. But superstars don't always win when the other team never punts. Seriously. Kansas didn't punt a single time in that game. That is almost unheard of at this level.
Historical Ties and the "New" Rivalry
We can't talk about the present without looking at the 1903 beginning. These schools have met over 70 times. Colorado leads the all-time series 42-26-3, but those numbers are a bit misleading if you only look at the "Coach Prime" era.
For a decade, this game didn't even exist. When Colorado bolted for the Pac-12 in 2011, the series went cold. Now that the Buffs are back in the Big 12, the heat is turned back up.
It's not just about the points on the board. It's about the contrast in building a program.
- Colorado: Heavy reliance on the transfer portal, high-end NIL visibility, and a "win now" mentality led by one of the most famous figures in sports history.
- Kansas: A "build from within" philosophy, focusing on retaining guys like Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal through multiple coaching cycles and lean years.
When these two meet, you’re watching two different blueprints for how to survive the modern NCAA landscape.
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Stat Nerds, This One's for You
If you look at the 2024 matchup, the box score tells a wild story.
Kansas held the ball for 40 minutes and 11 seconds. Think about that. In a 60-minute game, Colorado’s explosive offense only had the ball for about 19 minutes. It’s hard for Shedeur Sanders to make magic happen when he’s sitting on a heated bench watching the Jayhawks' offensive line maul his teammates.
Kansas put up 520 total yards. Colorado? Just 308.
The most glaring stat was the rushing attack. Kansas went for 331 yards on the ground. Colorado managed a measly 42. You can have the best receivers in the world, but if you can’t run the ball or stop the run, the Big 12 will eat you alive.
Why the 2026 Meeting Matters Even More
As we look toward the next installment of Colorado Buffaloes football vs Kansas Jayhawks football, the stakes have shifted.
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The 2025 season was a bit of a reset for both programs. Colorado struggled with consistency, finishing near the bottom of the conference standings, while Kansas dealt with the departure of legendary talent like Devin Neal to the NFL.
But 2026 is the rubber match of sorts for the "new" Big 12 era.
People often get it wrong—they think this is a mismatch because of the "names" on the Colorado roster. It isn't. Kansas has proven they have the tactical advantage in the trenches. If Colorado wants to flip the script, they have to move past the "flash" and find some "grit."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re heading to the game or looking at the spread, here is what actually matters based on the last few years of data:
- Watch the Time of Possession: If Kansas is winning the clock, they are winning the game. Their system is designed to suffocate high-tempo offenses like Colorado’s.
- The "Hunter Factor": Travis Hunter is a generational talent, but Kansas found success in 2024 by essentially ignoring him on defense and running right at the Colorado front seven. Don't assume one superstar can neutralize a cohesive rushing attack.
- Venue Neutrality: Kansas has shown they can play anywhere. Whether it's Lawrence, Boulder, or Kansas City, the Jayhawks don't seem rattled by the "Prime Effect."
- Discipline is Key: In their last major meeting, Colorado was flagged eight times for 65 yards. In close Big 12 games, those "dumb" penalties—as Deion calls them—are the difference between a bowl game and a losing season.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for the offensive lines. This matchup is won in the dirt, not the air. Check the official Big 12 standings and the latest transfer portal entries as the season approaches to see which team has patched their defensive holes.
The rivalry is back, it's bitter, and it's exactly what college football needed.