Kansas upsets Colorado to shake up Big 12 title race, College Football Playoff picture

Kansas has played spoiler to many Big 12 teams in recent weeks and Colorado is its latest victim. The Jayhawks rolled to an 37-21 victory Saturday in Kansas City to hand the Buffaloes their second loss and send the conference title race into chaos.

Colorado entered Saturday’s game tied for first place in the conference with BYU and in control of its own destiny to make the Big 12 Championship. But this loss throws that into question as their is now a three-way tie for the No. 1 spot in the league standings.

Jayhawks running back Devin Neal ran all over the Colorado defense to the tune of four total touchdowns, 207 yards rushing and four catches for 80 yards receiving. The school’s all-time leading rusher, he put the team on his back this Senior Day to give the home crowd one last performance to remember him by.

“A lot of guys could have gave up on this, but it’s special and you see the crowd that showed up today,” Neal said in an interview with ESPN postgame. “We built this and we take a lot of pride in that. It’s just so special and to go out like that in my last home game, it means a lot. There’s a lot of emotions I’m feeling right now and this is such a special group.”

The victory marked the third straight for Kansas against a ranked opponent after it also took out Iowa State and BYU in the past two games. The Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) have now won four out of their past five games after beginning the season 1-5.

Thanks to them, there could potentially be a four-way tie atop the conference standing if the Cyclones win Saturday night against Utah.

Kansas jumped out to a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and never relinquished it. The Buffaloes did manage to come back and make it a 23-21 deficit early in the third quarter, but that would be the final time it score all game.

The Jayhawks immediately responded with a touchdown from Neal on the ensuing drive. That proved the dagger as Kansas was able to control the clock thanks to its success on the ground, possessing the ball for more than 40 minutes while the Buffaloes had it for less than 20.

KU is now just one more win away from achieving bowl eligibility for third straight season. Neal has been with the team for the past four years and knows how significant that achievement would be.

For now, however, he’s enjoying the moment of this win.

“Just so proud of this fan base,” he said. “I just love this fan base. I love this school. I love this university. I give everything to this university and there’s been so many supporters through it all. I can’t imagine being part of a better school. “