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

Wildcats that gape: The biggest key to Kansas State’s victory was running the rock. In the first half alone, junior DJ Giddens outrebounded the Buffs for 127 yards on 12 carries, good for 10.6 yards a pop. Ex-Buff Dylan Edwards added 17 yards and a TD. Giddens was untouchable at times, and the CU linebackers and secondary players had a particularly difficult time finding themselves on the second and third levels. KSU continued to pound the football and bleed the clock in the second half, starting with a nearly eight-minute touchdown drive in the third. Colorado native, Durango graduate and starting right tackle Carver Willis helped pave the way for a 182-yard rushing night for Giddens.

Hunter, Horn is injured: CU star wideout/cornerback and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter, who was at the center of the Buffs’ 4-1 start this Saturday, left the game midway through the second quarter with what ESPN reported as a shoulder injury. Hunter caught a pass for 14 yards, but was busted by KSU safety Daniel Cobbs and immediately left the game. He did not return and sophomore Colton Hood replaced Hunter on defense (and later eliminated K-State). On offense, CU also lost wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. due to an injury in the first half and Horn did not return either. The absence of these two playmakers, especially Hunter, took some of the explosiveness out of CU’s offense, even though the Buffs managed to put 28 on the board.

Hood in coupling: No Hunter to play lock-down corner in crunch time? No problem, at least for a while. Hood got things going late in the fourth quarter with an interception and runback that set up CU’s go-ahead goal with 3:20 to go. On fourth-and-6 at the CU 31-yard line, Avery Johnson’s pass was tipped by Preston Hodge and then corralled by Hood. He ran it back to the KSU 17-yard line, tripped on the grass and landed just short of the pick-6. However, the next drive, Jayce Brown burned Hodge for a 50-yard TD catch.

Shedeur beams: Once again, the CU QB looked like a top pick despite playing without his two top targets in Hunter and Horn. No. 2 completed 16 consecutive passes in the second and third quarters – a CU record streak – and forced the Buffs back into the game with his arm despite some big hits. His only blemish was an interception on an overthrow, and his final statistical line was video game-esque: 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 had 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 that effectively killed the drive. The Wildcats continued to bring the heat in the second half, especially when the Buffs nearly gave up the point. KSU had two sacks for minus-25 yards over the final two quarters and finished with six sacks overall. After a sack in the third quarter, KSU defensive end Ryan Davis celebrated with Shedeur Sanders’ signature wristwatch move, holding the pose for a few seconds toward the CU crowd.

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

Who’s who: As has become the norm at Buffs games under Coach Prime, a slew of stars lined CU’s sidelines Saturday night at Folsom Field. That list included current Nugget Russell Westbrook, retired former Nugget Carmelo Anthony (who rocked a Peter Forsberg Avs jersey), former Wizards star John Wall, current NBA stars Kevin Durant and John Wall, and rapper Cam’ ron. Additionally, former CU football stars and current NFL receivers Laviska Shenault and Juwann Winfree were also in attendance.