First observations on Colorado’s 31-28 loss to the Kansas State Wildcats in a Big 12 showdown in Boulder.

Wildcats slash: The biggest key to the win for Kansas State was running the rock. In the first half alone, junior DJ Giddens trampled the Buffs for 127 yards on 12 carries, a good 10.6 yards per pass. Former Buff Dylan Edwards added 17 yards and a TD. Giddens was untouchable at times, and CU’s linebackers and secondary had a particularly difficult time making an impact at the second and third levels. KSU continued to pound the football in the second half and bled out the clock, starting with a nearly eight-minute TD drive in the third. Carver Willis, a Colorado native, Durango graduate and right tackle, helped pave the way for Giddens’ 182-yard rushing night.

Hunter, horn hurts: CU star wideout/cornerback and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter, who played a key role in the Buffs’ 4-1 start on Saturday, left the game midway through the second quarter with a shoulder injury, ESPN reported. Hunter caught a 14-yard pass, but was squashed by KSU safety Daniel Cobbs and immediately left the game. He did not return and sophomore Colton Hood came on in place of Hunter on defense (and later sat out against K-State). On offense, CU also lost wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. to injury in the first half, and Horn also did not return. The absence of these two playmakers, especially Hunter, took some of the fire out of the CU offense, although the Buffs managed to put 28 points on the board.

Hood in clutch: No Hunter to play lockdown corner in crunch time? No problem, at least for a moment. Late in the fourth quarter, Hood got going with an interception and a runback that set up CU’s go-ahead touchdown with 3:20 left. On fourth-and-6 at the CU 31-yard line, Avery Johnson’s pass was tipped by Preston Hodge and then parried by Hood. He ran back to the KSU 17-yard line, stumbled on the grass and got just short of the pick-six. But on the next drive, Jayce Brown hit Hodge for a 50-yard TD catch.

Shedeur shines: Once again, CU’s QB appeared to be a top draft pick despite playing without his top two targets, Hunter and Horn. No. 2 completed 16 consecutive passes in the second and third quarters – a CU record – and used his arm to force the Buffs back into the game despite taking some big hits. His only fumble was a diving interception, and his final stats resembled something out of a video game: 34 of 40 for 338 yards, three touchdowns and a 186.2 rating.

Large bags: Both teams’ defensive lines made noise in the first half, as the Wildcats recorded four sacks for minus-49 yards while CU’s defense had three sacks for minus-29 yards. Kansas State’s pressure also forced an intentional grounding on CU’s final possession of the half, which virtually killed the drive. The Wildcats continued to turn heads in the second half, especially when the Buffs almost gave up the run. KSU had two sacks for minus-25 yards in the final two quarters and finished with six total sacks. During a sack in the third quarter, KSU defensive back Ryan Davis celebrated with Shedeur Sanders’ signature wristwatch move, holding the pose toward the CU crowd for a few seconds.

KSU QB injured, returns: The Wildcats also had an injury to a dual-threat quarterback, but Johnson’s absence was short-lived. The sophomore suffered what appeared to be a side injury on KSU’s first possession of the second half after sending an impressive 33-yard pass to Brown. Senior Ta’Quan Roberson sent Johnson, who returned to the field later in the drive, to throw a one-yard touchdown pass to Brown, giving him a two-score lead. That 16-play, 81-yard drive consumed more than half of the third quarter.

Who is who: As has become the norm at Buffs games under Coach Prime, there were plenty of stars on the CU sideline Saturday night at Folsom Field. That list included current Nugget Russell Westbrook, retired former Nugget Carmelo Anthony (who wore a Peter Forsberg Avs jersey), former Wizards star John Wall, current NBA stars Kevin Durant and John Wall, and rapper Cam ‘Ron. Former CU football stars and current NFL receivers Laviska Shenault and Juwann Winfree were also on hand.