3 crucial moments from Colorado's CFB regular season that changed the course of its playoff journey

With Deion Sanders in charge, Colorado has arguably been the most high-profile college football program in America as it pertains to entertainment value. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been a huge reason why the Buffaloes have returned to the national spotlight over the past two seasons.

Sanders arrived in Boulder in December 2022 to take over a team that had gone 1-11 that season, tying 2012 as the worst record for the program in a 12-game schedule. Coach Prime's first year with the Buffaloes didn't go quite as planned, as they were ranked as high as No. 18 in the Associated Press poll, but sputtered to a 4-8 finish with five straight Pac-12 losses.

There were higher expectations entering this go-round, with two-way star Travis Hunter and Sanders' son, Shedeur, back in the fold. Colorado also snuggled back into the Big 12, and its goal of reaching the College Football Playoff was attainable in a conference that was up for grabs.

The Buffaloes wound up in the Alamo Bowl, though. So, what went wrong on their path there?

3 crucial moments from Colorado's CFB regular season

3) Big 12 title hopes evaporate as Colorado falls to Kansas

Deion Sanders' team was ranked No. 16 in the College Football Playoff rankings as it headed into a clash with Kansas at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 23. At that point, the Buffaloes were showing a lot of promise.

Colorado's defense fell flat, however.

"We controlled our own destiny," Deion Sanders said following the 37-21 defeat. "And we fumbled it."

The Buffaloes fell into a 10-point hole in the first frame and could never take control of the game. The closest Colorado got was a 23-21 count after Hunter's second touchdown grab of the night with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter. The Buffaloes didn't score again, but Kansas' Devin Neal punched it in twice more to finish off a four-touchdown performance.

Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels helped his side put points up on every possession but their last. Kansas held the ball for over 40 minutes and totaled 520 yards of offense.

The defeat meant that the Buffaloes needed to beat Oklahoma State the next week and get help, which they didn't.

2) Colorado worn down by Nebraska

After downing eventual FCS champion North Dakota State in its opener, Sanders and company were kept down by old rival Nebraska on the road.

"That's how we wanted to come out," Cornhuskers defensive lineman Ty Robinson said after the game. "Dominance. We wanted them to feel us."

Shedeur Sanders felt that front breathe down his neck for the entirety of the 28-10 setback. Nebraska sacked him five times and harassed him for much of the night. Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule said afterward that his team expected such an outcome.

The Buffaloes didn't pick up a first down until the fifth time they had the ball. Their yardage total was in the negatives after the first 15 minutes, they only gained 260 yards on the night, had a field goal blocked, and Shedeur Sanders threw a pick-six from his end zone.

Nebraska had a 28-0 cushion at the midway point.

1) Colorado has 3-game win streak snapped by Kansas State

In its only ranked regular season matchup, the Buffaloes had NBA icons Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant on its sideline.

The night didn't go how they'd hoped after three straight wins against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado State, Baylor and UCF. Hunter exited the 31-28 loss in the first half with a shoulder ailment, but the Buffaloes still erased a 21-7 third-quarter deficit.

Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson launched a 50-yard score to Jayce Brown with 2:14 to go, though.

"Sometimes you lose, you say, 'Dang, we should've won that. We should've had that,'" Deion Sanders said. "That was one of those types of games."