After playing four of its first six games on the road, Kansas University’s football team should be more than ready for a 1 p.m. homecoming game next Saturday when Colorado visits.

At the moment, the Buffaloes have other matters on their minds.

On Sept. 23, quarterback Craig Ochs, who had missed two straight games after suffering his third concussion in the past year, announced he wouldn’t play again this season and was leaving school.

The defection by Ochs, a three-year starter and one of the team’s captains, stunned the Buffs (2-2). They had an off week to regroup before playing host to No. 13 Kansas State (4-0) today in the Big 12 opener.

The Buffs lost two of their first three games, despite playing all three in Colorado. They dropped their season opener, 19-14, to Colorado State on Aug. 31 at Denver. After defeating San Diego State, 34-14, a week later in Boulder, Southern Cal pounded the Buffs, 40-3 in Boulder.

CU bounced back, however, with a 31-17 against UCLA on Sept. 21 at Los Angeles.

Now Colorado must take on a K-State team that defeated USC, 27-20, two weeks ago.

“I think this is the biggest game of our season opening with probably the best team in the Big 12 North,” CU receiver Jeremy Bloom said.