Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney chose the worst possible moment to lose his cool during Saturday’s game against Kansas, and it cost his team dearly. With just under six minutes left in the game, Colorado was trailing Kansas 37-21 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Jayhawks faced a 2nd-and-13 situation at their own 26-yard line, and Colorado’s defense was in desperate need of a stop to have any hope of turning the game around.
A defensive stop here could have shifted momentum back in favor of the Buffaloes, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
As the play concluded, Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney got into a heated altercation with Kansas wide receiver Lawrence Arnold. The two players initially exchanged shoves, an incident that the referees seemed prepared to overlook as they stepped in to separate the players.
However, as one of the officials was trying to intervene, McKinney decided to take it one step further by delivering an additional shove to Arnold, a move that earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The penalty was costly for Colorado. Instead of forcing a 3rd-and-long situation and giving themselves a chance to get the ball back, the Buffaloes handed Kansas an automatic first down. The Jayhawks used the opportunity to extend their drive, effectively running out the clock and putting an end to Colorado’s hopes of a comeback.
The game ended in a 37-21 loss for Colorado, a defeat that could have major implications for their season. With this loss, the Buffaloes, who entered the game ranked 16th, may have seen their chances of making the expanded College Football Playoff slip away.
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After the game, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders addressed his entire team in the locker room. Sanders, known for his motivational speeches and his no-nonsense approach, did not single out DJ McKinney for the incident.
Instead, Coach Prime chose to focus on the broader issue of discipline and composure, emphasizing to his players the importance of staying focused, especially in crucial moments.
He expressed his disappointment with the team’s inability to maintain their composure against a Kansas squad that entered the game with a 4-6 record and was seen as an underdog.
Sanders’ message was clear: the Buffaloes had let an opportunity slip away, not just because of one player’s mistake, but due to a lack of overall discipline and focus.
The loss was a setback for a Colorado team that has shown promise throughout the season, but it also served as a reminder of the importance of mental toughness and the ability to keep emotions in check when the stakes are high.
With the College Football Playoff potentially out of reach, the Buffaloes will need to regroup, learn from their mistakes, and finish the season on a positive note if they hope to salvage what has otherwise been a promising campaign.
