For the third week in a row, the Kansas Jayhawks embraced chaos—and delivered it in spectacular fashion. Their unexpected heroics have left the Big 12 Conference in complete disarray as the final week of the regular season approaches.

At GEHA Field in Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas made history by becoming the first college football team with a losing record to defeat three consecutive Top 25 opponents. Their latest victory, a 37-21 upset over Deion Sanders’ 16th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes, added another twist to the conference’s turbulent season.

Senior running back Devin Neal was the driving force behind the Jayhawks’ triumph. In his final home game, Neal electrified the crowd, amassing 287 total yards and scoring four touchdowns. Kansas (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) dismantled Colorado (8-3, 6-2) on the ground, racking up 331 rushing yards against a defense that had been stout in recent weeks. This win not only marked a turning point for the Jayhawks but also extended their late-season streak of victories over ranked teams, following previous wins against Iowa State and BYU. It was the first time Kansas achieved such a feat since 1968.

For Colorado, the loss shattered their four-game winning streak and their control over the path to the Big 12 title game. Now, the Buffaloes must defeat Oklahoma State at home next Friday and hope for favorable outcomes in games involving BYU, Arizona State, and Iowa State.

Reflecting on the loss, Sanders admitted Kansas simply wanted it more. “We were smelling ourselves,” he said. “That’s on me.” He also acknowledged the challenge of managing a team caught up in its own hype: “They can’t stop reading the stuff about who we are. That’s tough.”

Despite the defeat, Colorado’s Travis Hunter continued to shine, bolstering his Heisman Trophy campaign with a standout performance. The dynamic two-way player recorded 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions, tying a school record with his sixth 100-yard receiving game this season. On defense, Hunter added seven tackles and two near-interceptions. Earlier this week, Hunter confirmed his intent to declare for the NFL Draft, where he plans to play on both sides of the ball.

Kansas, however, stole the spotlight with their relentless offense. The Jayhawks scored on their first seven possessions, with Neal responsible for four touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving. According to TruMedia, only one other team this season, NC State, has managed such a feat in a conference game.

Colorado’s defensive struggles were glaring. After a season of improvement under new coordinator Rob Livingston, the Buffaloes’ run defense unraveled. Kansas repeatedly broke through, with Neal ripping off explosive plays of 31, 28, and 47 yards, as well as a 51-yard reception. The Buffs, who had held UCF’s elite rushing offense to 177 yards earlier this season, allowed more than 185 rushing yards for the first time this year. Sanders summed it up: “Rushing defense was alarming. You can’t win when a team is rushing for 330 yards on you.”

The loss has significant implications for the Big 12 and the College Football Playoff. The conference was already on shaky ground in the race for a top-four seed, with Oregon, Texas, Miami, and Boise State leading the selection committee’s rankings. Colorado’s defeat further weakens the Big 12’s standing, especially with BYU suffering a second straight loss and Arizona State gaining ground.

With the Big 12’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the final week promises to be a nail-biter. Kansas, once dismissed as a non-factor, has reshaped the narrative, injecting unpredictability into the race and ensuring the chaos continues.