Who is Colorado playing today? Examining Buffs' potential Big 12 title game clincher
The Colorado Buffaloes want to punch their ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game in Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas Jayhawks in Week 13.
Does CU get the job done against an opponent that just Iowa State and BYU in consecutive weeks?
There was a lot going on heading into Week 13. Let's take a look at all the headlines on and off the field for the Buffs.
In case you missed it…
5-star Carrolton (GA) quarterback Julian Lewis announced on the Pat McAfee Show on November 21 that he will commit to Colorado for next season in a move that could lay the foundation for their future championship aspirations.
The move will become official as early as December 5.
The latest bowl scenario, several Buffs to the Shrine Bowl
With the win over Kansas and wins from BYU and Utah this week, the Buffs will clinch a spot in the Big 12 Conference Championship in Arlington.
Six Buffs signed on to play at the East/West Shrine Bowl this coming January. QB Shedeur Sanders, DB Shilo Sanders, WR Jimmy Horn Jr., DB Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, and receivers Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester will represent Colorado at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on January 30.
More conference, national weekly honors for the Buffs
A handful of notable Buffs earned many honors for their performances last week.
WR LaJohntay Wester received Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-changing 76-yard punt return touchdown run last week versus Utah.
DL Amari McNeill earned Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his three tackles and one sack performance against the Utes last week.
QB Shedeur Sanders received an honorary mention for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week, and full honors for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm of the Week after delivering a gutsy performance last week versus Utah.
Team ace Travis Hunter was named semi-finalist for the Bletnikoff Award. The award goes to a player who is the best receiver in the FBS. Hunter also received the Lott Impact Player of the Week for his usually solid performance, this time against Utah.
OL Cash Cleveland was graded 82.6% by the Pro Football Focus College after another strong performance under center last week.
Scouting the Jayhawks
Despite the 4-6 record, the Kansas Jayhawks are not a pushover.
The Jayhawks have been in every game this year, and five of their six losses have been by six points or less.
Ranked offensively in the Big 12, Kansas is ranked eighth in total offense with 403.9 YPG, and ninth in scoring with 30.2 PPG. Furthermore, their strength is in rushing, third with 200.3 yards per game but fourth-worst in passing with 203.6 yards per game.
For the defense, they are ranked in the middle of the pack in total defense (380 yards per game), scoring defense (24.6 PPG), rushing (150.7 yards per game), and passing (229.3 YPG).