Colorado’s hopes for the Big 12 Championship took a hit with a surprising 37-21 loss to unranked Kansas.

The Buffaloes, BYU, and Arizona State share the top conference spot at 6-2, with Iowa State close behind. If all four finish 7-2, Arizona State and Iowa State would compete in the Championship.

After the loss, head coach Deion Sanders assured fans his team would give their all in next weekend’s finale against Oklahoma State.

“It’s important to remind young players that Thanksgiving isn’t about the food—it’s about staying focused on the game and giving their best effort.”

Coach Prime feels Colorado football let early wins affect their focus after starting the season strong.

“We got carried away with the hype,” Sanders shared. “I told the team we got caught up in the success, the articles, and assumptions about us. We didn’t play our game, and it showed. We got outplayed—simple as that.”

The Jayhawks excelled against the Buffaloes, with Devin Neal scoring four rushing touchdowns and Kansas outgaining Colorado 331-42, all without turnovers or punts.

“We couldn’t hold them back,” Sanders said. “They were stronger, more determined, and played harder than we did. They outworked us and truly wanted the win more than we did.”

Colorado football is 8-3 and has a tough road ahead to reach the conference title. Right now, their focus is on improving and performing better next Saturday.