Kansas State running back Joe Jackson rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas State defeated Colorado 24-14 and earned bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season on a cold and blustery day. The game-time temperature was 32 degrees with a wind chill of 24.

Quarterback Avery Johnson was 10-of-17 for 115 yards in difficult conditions for Kansas State (6-6, 5-4 Big 12). Kaidon Salter was 14-of-25 for 172 yards for Colorado (3-9, 1-8), who got two rushing touchdowns from Micah Welch.

Jackson scored his second touchdown of the day from 1-yard out with 4:32 left in the third quarter. The score capped a 56-yard drive. The Wildcats then made it a two-score game with a 35-yard field goal by Luis Rodriguez. The Wildcats stalled at the Colorado 19-yard line, but they burned 6:43 off the clock.

Down ten points with nothing to play for in the fourth quarter on the road on a cold afternoon, the Buffs nonetheless made a game of it with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to make it a 17-14 game on Welch’s second touchdown run … but Kansas State responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive of their own to put the game out of reach late.

“It’s not a consolation prize,” Coach Prime said of the Buffs’ effort. “They’re supposed to fight. They are supposed to want it and give their best. Let’s give them [KSU] some love and credit, but there’s no consolation prize given in these things.”