As a Boulder, Colorado native, my childhood was marked by a disappointing University of Colorado (CU) football team. The high point was when the Colorado Buffaloes reached the Alamo Bowl in 2016, only to be blown out by Oklahoma State in a 30-point loss (38-8). Over the years, we saw flashes of brilliance with stars like Phillip Lindsay, Nelson Spruce and Laviska Shenault but had mostly endured losing season after losing season. The glory days of the split national championship in 1990 (shared with Georgia Tech) were long gone, but in 2022 after 32 years, Colorado faithful were ready to get excited about our team again.
In late 2022, rumors began to swirl that Deion Sanders—pop culture icon and retired NFL and MLB player—was considering a move to Colorado to become our next head coach. After a Hall of Fame NFL career, Sanders transitioned to commentating, coaching and working with his sons Shedeur and Shilo during their high school years. He eventually took the head coaching job at Jackson State University, a Historically Black College and University, where his sons followed to play under him. Before their arrival, Jackson State lacked funding and excitement. But with Sanders, the team went 27-6, landing the Football Championship Subdivision’s first 5-star recruit, wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter.
On the night of December 3, 2022, moments after Jackson State lost in the Celebration Bowl, Sanders was named the next head football coach at CU. Sanders flew directly from Atlanta to Boulder to begin what would become one of the most publicized and dramatized seasons in college football history. To kick off his tenure, Sanders brought in 50 players to replace the 46 that had transferred out from the team that had just gone 1-11. The incoming players included former 5-star Travis Hunter and both of Sanders’ sons.
Sanders’ time at CU began with a bang, attracting 47,277 fans to a snowy spring game (inter-squad scrimmage), the highest number of attendees in the school’s history for such an event. With curiosity mounting, the Buffs visited the national championship runner-ups, Texas Christian University’s Horned Frogs, to open the season in an exciting shootout that ended with the Buffs winning 45-42. After this victory, Fox Big Noon Kickoff headed to Boulder to cover the next game against rival Nebraska, where the Buffs secured a 36-14 win. CU’s rising profile continued the next week, with the eyes of the sports world turning to Folsom Field for the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado State (CSU). That game, the 12th most-watched of the regular season, peaked at nearly 9.5 million viewers. In a rare occurrence, both Fox Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College GameDay held their pregame shows on CU’s campus for the showdown. The game was more thrilling than anyone had expected. CSU put up a strong fight against the 18th-ranked Colorado team, culminating in a 43-35 double-overtime Buffs win. Many viewers, myself included, stayed up past 2 a.m. on the East Coast to catch the ending of this thriller.
The following week, all eyes turned to Eugene, Oregon, where the No. 10 Oregon Ducks hosted the Buffs to open Pac-12 play. Expectations were high for a top 20 showdown, and tensions grew when Oregon coach Dan Lanning famously said, “They’re fighting for clicks; we’re fighting for wins.” That clip continues to circulate among CU cynics in the present day. As the game began, America’s attention was on Autzen Stadium, but by halftime, Oregon had built a 35-0 lead. The final score was 42-6,and to add salt to the wound, this game was the 3rd most watched of the regular season, peaking at just over 10 million viewers. It was clear that the Cinderella story which engulfed the Buffs in September was beginning to crumble. They went on to lose seven of their next eight games, many by just one score, during what was arguably the strongest Pac-12 season in history.
During the offseason, Deion Sanders and his coaching staff recruited a completely new offensive line—including the No. 1 tackle in the class of 2024, Jordan Seaton—amongst others through the transfer portal. They also advertised an improved run-stopping defense with a beefed-up defensive line and many returning skill-position players. In the transfer portal, they added wide receiver standouts LaJohntay Webster from Florida Atlantic University and Will Shepard from Vanderbilt. These two playmakers, alongside Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn, were slated to be one of the best receiving corps in the nation, especially with future first round pick, Shedeur Sanders, throwing to them. With the addition of running backs Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch, Boulder fans were excited to see a much-improved team heading into the 2024 season. On August 29, 2024, the Buffs were set to host FCS powerhouse North Dakota State University (NDSU).
The NDSU game was closer than expected. The Buffs showed flashes of brilliance, but the defense struggled in the first half before improving in the second. The final score was a 31-26 Colorado win, giving the home crowd a nail-biter against a team we should have beaten handily. Heading into the following week to face a skilled Nebraska team with star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, fans—including myself—were nervous. Our fears proved valid. The O-line struggled all night to hold off Nebraska’s D-line, allowing Shedeur to be sacked six times and hit even more. To make matters worse, Shedeur left the field early due to a hit, leading some to question his leadership. After the Nebraska game, the Buffs faced intense public criticism regarding the team’s leadership, abilities and future.
After the loss in Lincoln to Nebraska, a bounce-back win was needed, and what better opportunity than the Rocky Mountain Showdown, which was being held at CSU for the first time in nine years. The trash talk was intense during the week with CSU’s quarterback and star receiver openly disrespecting CU, even after losing the previous year. This seemed to ignite the Buffs. They marched into Fort Collins—just 45 minutes down the road—and easily beat CSU 28-9. The CU faithful showed out to support the team.
Next up was Baylor to open Big-12 play. The betting market placed CU as a 2.5-point favorite, essentially calling it a toss-up. It turned out to be just that. Baylor came into Boulder strong, scoring 24 points in the first half. But the Buffs rallied back, culminating in a last-second 43-yard Hail Mary from Sanders to wide receiver LaJohntay Webster to tie the game and send it to overtime at 31-31. Baylor won the coin toss and deferred, giving CU the ball first. True freshman running back Micah Welch capped off a short drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Buffs ahead 38-31. Baylor then marched down the field. On the goal line, they attempted to run the ball at Travis Hunter (better known for his coverage than tackling). Just before the running back crossed the plane, Hunter dislodged the ball, causing a fumble. Fans stormed the field before the play was fully reviewed. Many took to social media to praise Sanders and Hunter, calling CU the most exciting thing on TV.
Up next is the University of Central Florida (UCF) on Sept. 28 in Orlando. Six days before the game, ESPN has UCF’s chances of winning at 82.2 percent and Colorado at a +14 point underdog. With the excitement surrounding CU, as well as UCF’s undefeated season thus far, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff is heading to Orlando for the game. America’s eyes are on the CU Buffs to see if they can live up to expectations in Coach Prime’s second year.