Kansas Jayhawks Silence No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes

© Nick Tre. Smith/USA TODAY SPORTS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4 Big 12 Conference) just shook the Big 12 and College Football Playoff rankings up once again, beating the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) 37-21 on Nov. 23 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas becomes the first team with a losing record to beat three straight Top 25 opponents in college football history and keeps its bowl hopes alive with yet another huge win.

Real Deal Devin Neal

The story of this game was Kansas running back Devin Neal's historic Senior Night. Neal had 287 total yards and 4 touchdowns, absolutely dominating the Colorado defense.

Neal has had a historic, record-breaking season and a historic day, but has always been a "community-first" guy being the hometown hero, something he always wants to be remembered for.

The Buffaloes had no answer for Neal and the Kansas offense as the Jayhawks never punted. The only drive the Jayhawks did not come away with points was the final kneel-down. A statement performance.

Kansas held the Buffaloes to a season-low amount of points and yardage as well, holding them to 21 points and 308 total yards. The Jayhawk onslaught proved to be too much and the Jayhawks kept rolling on a historic streak.

Kansas Jayhawks Command Possession

The Jayhawks were up nine after letting Colorado score to open halftime up and getting a score of their own to make it 30-21. They desperately needed a stop to keep the Buffaloes at bay. With a big stop toward the end of the third quarter, Kansas' opportunity came knocking.

The Jayhawks matriculated the ball down the field each drive, having a long, clock-eating series with each possession. Kansas needed another one to put Colorado on the ropes. They got another one, going on a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took up 8:07 for a 37-21 lead. An ensuing defensive stop sealed the deal.

"Shoutout to the Big O (offensive line) and Devin Neal for keeping us on the field today," Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels stated in the postgame presser.

The Jayhawks utilized a whopping 40:11 in time of possession, more than doubling Colorado's time of possession. This ball command was what allowed the Jayhawks to lead wire to wire.

'Not Too Bad for a Jitterbug'

The Jayhawks move to 5-6 on the season, just one win away from bowl eligibility for the third consecutive year, a program first. A lot of trash talk and a chippy affair saw the Jayhawks come out on top.

Daniels had something to say regarding the comments made by Colorado Senior Defensive Quality Control Analyst Warren Sapp before the Nov. 23 matchup. Sapp called the smaller-than-average quarterback a "jitterbug" who said the Buffaloes were going to "lay heavy" on the Kansas QB.

"Not too bad for a jitterbug, huh?" Daniels said.

The Buffaloes did not sack Daniels. Daniels had 6 carries for 72 yards, a 12 yards-per-carry average. The Jayhawks will face off against the Baylor Bears (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) in Waco, Texas on Nov. 30 to decide whether they go bowling or not.

The Buffaloes move to 8-3 after a massively disappointing performance.

"We started smelling ourselves a little bit. We got intoxicated with the success," Colorado head coach Deion Sanders stated in his postgame presser.

The Buffaloes no longer control their own destiny regarding the College Football Playoff and Big 12 Championship. They will need losses from multiple different Big 12 programs from here on out to clinch a spot in the title game.

"Nobody can say they gave their best effort," Sanders said to his team in the locker room.

The Buffaloes will finish off the season against Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8 Big 12), where they will await their postseason fate.