Beating Todd Reesing was a big deal for the Buffs.

Colorado`s defensive players have as much respect for the Kansas quarterback -- who had beaten them in each of the past three seasons -- as anyone in the Big 12, including Heisman Trophy candidate Colt McCoy of Texas and reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma.

"I owed him for a long time," said CU cornerback Cha`pelle Brown, who broke up Reesing`s pass to Dezmon Briscoe in the end zone on the final play of the game to preserve the 34-30 upset victory over the Jayhawks on Saturday night at Folsom Field. "It felt real good. He`s a great competitor."

Jalil Brown intercepted Reesing in the first half and returned the pass 35 yards down to the KU 1. He would have scored, but KU`s senior signal caller took him down just before he reached the goal line.

"All I saw was green and I was happy a little early," Jalil Brown said. "All of a sudden Reesing pops in out of nowhere, and I was kind of shocked. ... That`s one of the plays you wish you could have over again."

CU scored moments later anyway on a run by quarterback Tyler Hansen to take a 24-3 lead. The No. 17 Jayhawks were completely out of sync and on the verge of getting blown out.

Then Reesing took over.

KU`s star calmly led the visitors on a key 11-play, 80-yard drive to cut the deficit to 14 points before the intermission. And Reesing`s 25-yard touchdown to Briscoe in the fourth quarter gave the Jayhawks a 30-27 lead in the fourth quarter.

"We took away their run game completely, so they started chucking it and picking us apart," is how Jimmy Smith explained the crowd-silencing turnaround. "Reesing started being Reesing. He`s Superman."

Then Hansen was KU Kryptonite.

CU`s version of Reesing -- a versatile, elusive, fearless quarterback -- answered with a clutch drive to give his team the lead for good.

Fittingly, the Buffs had to hold their breath until Reesing`s final pass of the night fell incomplete.

"He`s a really competitive quarterback and he`s a great player," linebacker Jeff Smart said. "We knew he was going to battle to the end, and that`s what we had to do, too."

Believe it or not, Dan Hawkins said he will miss preparing for Reesing, who had to settle for a 3-1 record against CU.

"One of the real joys for me is coming out every Saturday, entering great stadiums and playing against great players," Hawkins said. "That`s why you do it."

Reesing, who was sacked five times, finished with 401 yards passing. He threw two touchdowns and even caught a 14-yard pass to set up a KU score.

"All of these years we`ve been playing him, and he has been beating us. He`s been like a thorn we couldn`t get out," Jalil Brown said. "It felt great to finally go out there and get a win against him."