The hype leading into last night was palpable. The visiting Colorado Buffaloes, coached by the larger-than-life Deion Sanders, rolled into Arrowhead with swagger, alumni fanfare, and a tailgating setup that took over the neighboring Royals stadium. CU fans turned Kauffman Stadium into their pre-game rally zone, flaunting their school spirit while KU made its presence known by fencing off a prime adjacent parking area and blasting 50 Cent tracks like it was the 2008 Orange Bowl.
Despite the energy and noise from CU’s contingent, it was the Kansas Jayhawks who silenced the Buffs and their fans—on the field, at least. The game ended in a decisive 37-21 victory for the underdog Jayhawks, leaving the CU faithful scrambling for the exits early to “beat traffic” because, let’s face it, that was the only thing they were going to beat last night.
Kansas might not be going to a bowl game this year, but last night, they were kings of the Big 12 stage. By dismantling BYU and a Colorado team that has dominated headlines, KU delivered an undeniable statement: Deion Sanders’ Buffs are mortal, and the Jayhawks? They came to play.
The loss leaves Colorado fans licking their wounds and wondering if they overhyped their team. Meanwhile, Jayhawk fans have every reason to hold their heads high. They may not have a bowl appearance to boast about this season [not yet at least] , but they did something no one else in the Big 12 seemed to manage this year [except all Kansas teams]: they left Deion and company stunned, humbled, and packing for the drive home.
In a year where KU football has had its share of challenges, this was a moment of glory, a single game that could very well shift perceptions. And for Big 12 fans? It’s a night they won’t forget anytime soon—well, except for those CU supporters who already left the parking lot by halftime.
