Colorado in Spot for Title

The national championship is there for the taking for Colorado.

The Buffaloes likely move up to No. 1 Monday after whipping Kansas State for their ninth straight victory. Notre Dame, which plays Colorado in the Orange Bowl, was beaten by Penn State.

“I think they’re the best football team in the country,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said after the Buffaloes won the Big Eight title outright with a 64-3 pounding of the Wildcats.

“I told (Colorado coach) Bill (McCartney) after the game that I honestly felt they could win the national championship. I think they can, first, because they’re good enough and, second, because they’ve been there. A year ago, they hadn’t had the experience.”

In other Big Eight games, Missouri beat Kansas 31-21 and Oklahoma State downed Iowa State 25-17.

Nebraska and Oklahoma were idle. The two foes hold their annual meeting Nov. 23.

Colorado scored on seven of its first eight possessions in dominating the Wildcats at Boulder and finishing 10-1-1 overall, 7-0 in the Big Eight.

“My worst fears were realized,” Snyder said. “They overwhelmed us offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. Great teams do that and they’re a great team.”

McCartney’s response: “We really didn’t want to score that many points. I had no idea we would. We wanted to have a little fun out there in the last home game. The score did get a little out of hand.”

McCartney said Snyder should be coach of the year after the Wildcats finished won five games this season, finishing 5-6 overall, 2-5 in the Big Eight.

Linzy Collins led Missouri past rival Kansas with a record-setting day.

The senior receiver closed out Missouri’s 100th season by setting school records with 56 catches this year and 229 yards in the game.