Wrong Sanders in headline as Shilo, defense struggle to stop “Real Deal” Neal in CU Buffs’ loss at Kansas

Instant analysis from the CU Buffs’ 37-21 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium:

Wrong Sanders: For the Buffs to win, they needed a Sanders in the headline — just not that one. Shedeur in the big type or Deion in bold meant a victory. Shilo? Not so much. The senior safety struggled again. Sanders recorded three penalties — a horse collar tackle, offsides and personal foul — in a game where discipline and winning in the margins was critical. Sanders was not the reason the Buffs lost. But he was in on too many tackles and on the wrong end of too many penalties, symbolizing a CU defense that offered no resistance to a KU offense that did not punt once and exceeded 500 yards. Needing its best performance, CU’s D delivered its worst.

Real Deal Neal: This was the day everything felt different, testing the adjectives bestowed upon CU’s much-improved front. Sturdy, stout, stingy. None applied when it came to slowing running back Devin “Real Deal” Neal. Showing why he is an NFL prospect — Was it a coincidence the Broncos scouted the KU-Iowa State game two weeks ago? — Neal recorded two first-half touchdowns and ran for 88 of the Jayhawks’ 199 yards on the ground. He added short plunges in the third and fourth quarters, giving him 52 career touchdowns and leaving him as a strong candidate to enter KU’s Ring of Honor someday.

Shedeur stands alone: At 12:15 p.m., a good two hours before kickoff, Shedeur Sanders jogged to the Kansas City Chiefs logo at midfield and soaked in the environment. The idea of him playing here in 2025, possibly for the Raiders, becomes more realistic with each passing weekend. After going through his elaborate pregame routine, Sanders took out his Sharpie and rewrote the CU record book. With his 19-yard strike to Drelon Miller, he posted his 29th passing touchdown, breaking Sefo Liufau’s single-season record set in 2014.

Hunter’s Heisman hype: Travis Hunter does things that defy convention and force stares in his direction. Showing why he is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, Hunter raced 51 yards for CU’s first touchdown. He added a 26-yard score in the third quarter, making Saturday a legacy day. He eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and also became only the fifth Buffs receiver to reach double figures in touchdown catches in a single season. His 11 receiving scores sit one shy of Nelson Spruce’s school record. Hunter, who has six 100-yard games this season, insisted he is not chasing numbers, but these kinds of stats matter in the Heisman voting.