What does Deion Sanders' Colorado really need to secure a place in 12-team playoffs

Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes suffered a tough 31-28 loss at home to Kansas State in Week 7. The loss put the Buffaloes at 4-2 on the season.

Had they beaten Kansas State, the Buffaloes would've been a ranked team and had a legit chance of making the playoffs. But, following the defeat, what does Colorado need to do to make the playoffs?

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What does Deion Sanders' Colorado need to do to make the playoffs?

Shedeur Sanders is Colorado's starting QB - Source: Imagn

The college football playoffs expanded to 12 teams this season, which leaves a door open for the Colorado Buffaloes to get in, despite the two losses. However, Colorado is 2-1 in Big 12 conference play. The first way the Buffaloes can make the playoffs is to win the conference, which gets them an automatic bid.

However, Colorado will need to run the table and win every conference game going forward, which makes that path difficult. Colorado has some tough games against Arizona, Texas Tech, Utah and Oklahoma State. But if the Buffaloes can win out and have just one loss in the Big 12, it could be enough to make the playoff.

Winning out is also a possibility. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum thinks Deion Sanders has a shot at getting to the Big 12 championship game.

“The Big 12 is topsy turvy right now, and there are a lot of wins on that schedule that I didn’t think were possible a couple of weeks ago,” Finebaum said on First Take, via On3. “Utah has some problems as well. So Stephen A, back to what you said a minute ago, as you look at the schedule here, I don’t see Arizona (being a huge challenge) …

“Oklahoma State has lost a couple of times. There’s no place on this schedule (that) he can’t win. So I think the talk of them getting to the championship game of the Big 12 is realistic, and should they do that? If they win, they’re in the playoffs. I know that sounds like a pipe dream a couple weeks ago.”

If Deion Sanders is going to lead Colorado to the playoffs, the team will need to win out and likely win the Big 12.

With the Big 12 not being as strong as years past, it's uncertain if a three-loss Colorado team that lost in the Big 12 championship would be enough to get into the playoffs.

The Buffaloes have been given odds of +1400 to make the playoffs, which implies a 6.7% chance.