BOULDER, Colo. – When this crazy whirlwind game was over, coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football team could barely keep track of everything they had lost here against Kansas State.

∎ They lost two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return.

∎ They lost three more receivers to injuries, including star Jimmy Horn Jr.

∎ They lost a four-point lead in the final three minutes of the game.

∎ They even had a chance to win in the end when they got the ball back with 2:14 left. But then they lost that too before ultimately losing the game 31-28.

“We declared that we lost,” Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders said afterwards. “That is the statement: that we have lost… A loss is a loss. A loss is a loss. You can’t get that back.”

The Buffaloes almost won with another frenetic finish and even took the lead 28:24 with 3:12 left. After that, all they had to do was stop the No. 19 Wildcats in front of another sellout crowd at Folsom Field (53,972).

Apparently that was asking too much of them. And now the big question is what the fallout will be for the Buffaloes (4-2), including how badly Hunter was injured after becoming a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Deion Sanders said afterwards that he didn't know.

What did Deion Sanders say afterward?

He discussed the loss of four receivers to injuries during the game, including Hunter and Horn, who limped off the field in the second quarter.

“The loss of Travis, Jimmy and others was certainly tremendous because they are an important part of our team, an important part of our identity; They are an essential part of us,” said Deion Sanders. “That was a hard blow… That looks very out of us. But other guys had the opportunity to step up and they did. That’s why I’m proud of her.”

Sanders will likely provide an update on Hunter on Tuesday. He was leaving the field after making a 14-yard catch in the second quarter when he took a hard hit to the right shoulder from the helmet of Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs. Colorado then allowed three consecutive scoring drives against Kansas State (5-1) without Hunter playing cornerback on defense – two touchdowns and a 48-yard field goal that tied the Wildcats at 24 at the end of the third quarter :14 took the lead.

“We didn’t tackle well at all today,” said Sanders. “We didn’t get to the ball as a unit at all today. We had a few busts and a few things. I'm telling you, I hear the calls and (defensive coordinator Robert Livingston) called a heck of a play. He played a really good game and we just had to implement the decisions.”

So what the hell happened?

The Buffs were down 21-7 midway through the third quarter, but still came back. They even faced a potential knockout blow with 4:03 left when the Wildcats drove to the Colorado 31-yard line and, with a 24-21 lead, decided to go for it on fourth down and 6. A conversion could have helped secure the win for KSU. A field goal on fourth down could have given the Wildcats a 27-21 lead.

But Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman said afterward that he didn't want his team to attempt a field goal in the fourth because he was afraid Shedeur Sanders would get the ball back and score to take the lead.

“I knew I'd probably get my ass kicked if we shot the field goal, (then) they take it down and score… with the best quarterback in the country (Sanders), and we lose 28-27.” said Klieman. “I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Avery Johnson's fourth-down pass instead went to the player who replaced Hunter as cornerback on defense – Auburn transfer Colton Hood, who nearly ran it back for a touchdown but failed at Kansas State's 17-yard line. Two plays later, Shedeur Sanders threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to receiver LaJohntay Wester with 3:12 left. Colorado suddenly led 28-24.

“Huge,” Deion Sanders said of Hood’s big performance. “It was a natural high. That was phenomenal.”

A few defensive stops could have made the difference for Colorado after that. Instead, the Buffaloes allowed two huge plays – a 34-yard pass from Johnson that took the ball to the 50-yard line, and then a 50-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to receiver Jayce Brown, 2:14 before the end. The Wildcats had regained the lead at 31-28, less than a minute after the Buffaloes seemingly pulled off another miracle. Three weeks earlier, they used a Hail Mary pass to force overtime before beating Baylor.

What does the loss mean for Colorado and Deion Sanders?

The Buffs are 2-1 in Big 12 Conference play and just showed that they can compete with possibly the best team in the league. They next play at Arizona (3-3) on Saturday.

“This team has heart,” Deion Sanders said. “You have integrity. They are tough. They love playing this game. We simply fell short. We just have to learn to win these special games.”

Last year, the Buffs also had a 4-2 record at this point, but never won another game before finishing 4-8. They lost five games by seven points or less last year.

“This is a completely different team,” Sanders said.

But what do they do without Hunter and Horn? Receivers Omarion Miller and Terrell Timmons also suffered injuries on Saturday. The good news for the Buffs is that they are deep at the receiver position. Nine different players caught balls Saturday from Shedeur Sanders, who completed 34 of 40 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Shedeur was also sacked six times, but almost had another chance at the end when his final pass looked like it might have been flagged for pass interference by Kansas State near the Wildcats' 40-yard line. Instead, the pass fell incomplete on fourth down without a penalty being assessed.

“Whatever the referee called, he called,” Shedeur said.

Johnson finished the game completing 15 of 23 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for Kansas State. He also ran for an 8-yard touchdown in the first quarter – a play he celebrated by doing the Deion Sanders “Shuffle” dance in the end zone.

Kansas State running back DJ Giddens had 182 yards on 25 carries.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]

(This story has been updated to add video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Colorado's Deion Sanders came up short in troubling loss to KSU