Deion Sanders has spearheaded a dramatic cultural overhaul at the University of Colorado, reshaping the Buffaloes football program in just two seasons since taking over as head coach.
Under his leadership, Colorado has gone from a one-win team to a bowl-eligible program and a rising contender in the Big 12.
Now, as he approaches the most pivotal season of his coaching career, Sanders faces a fresh set of challenges. His sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, are no longer on the roster, and standout two-way player Travis Hunter is also gone.
To address those departures, Coach Prime will rely heavily on the new talent he’s assembled, including both high school recruits and transfer portal players.
The offense will likely be led by quarterback Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty, or by five-star true freshman Julian Lewis, who was drawn to Colorado in large part because of the influence of Shedeur and Deion Sanders.
Despite the roster changes, the excitement remains strong. Coach Prime recently posted an inspiring message on social media, expressing his enthusiasm and readiness for the season ahead.
“I’m so excited about life!” Sanders wrote. “I have no idea what GOD is gonna do next but I do know it will be extraordinary. #CoachPrime Lord I miss our young men & staff. @CUBuffsFootball”
In 2023, the Buffaloes ended the season with a 4-8 record. They started strong, including a notable victory over TCU, but struggled in the latter half of the year, suffering several difficult losses that prevented them from reaching bowl eligibility during Deion Sanders’ inaugural season at Colorado.
In 2024, however, Colorado took a significant step forward, finishing with a 9-4 record and earning a berth in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. They lost the game 36-14, which marked the final college appearance for both Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
BetMGM has set Colorado’s projected win total at 6.5 games for the upcoming season. While reaching six wins would technically make the Buffaloes bowl eligible, it would still be seen as a regression compared to last year’s nine-win campaign.
Colorado will kick off the 2025 season at home on August 29, facing off against Georgia Tech from the ACC.