​Deion Sanders is trying to reboot the program. After a brutal five-game losing streak to end the Big 12 season—and marking the sixteenth time in eighteen years that Colorado failed to win more than three conference games—Coach Prime is essentially starting over, and there’s a truth to that. If your team isn’t strong in the transfer portal era, even if you assembled it yourself, you should pursue better players to elevate the squad. The drawback, though, is that relying solely on newcomers can erode cohesion and consistency, a problem that painfully showed up last year.
On July 7, 2026, in Frisco, Texas, at Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star, Deion Sanders spoke to reporters about where Colorado stands. The image accompanying the coverage shows him addressing the media, underscoring the sense that a rebuild is underway.
When you lose transcendent contributors who repeatedly sparked magical play, like Shedeur and Travis did, you have to have a plan to fill the void once they depart. That means establishing a rock-solid foundation to build from and then identifying the superstars who can thrive alongside what’s already in place.
Now Colorado faces an even tougher schedule. Last year’s team didn’t have to contend with Texas Tech or Arizona State, and it played outside the Power Four on two occasions. This year, the slate includes those programs and a tougher path, while the program remains without a clear sense of continuity. It’s possible the plan will work, or it could mark 2024 as a brief, bright blast that’s already in the rearview mirror.
2026 Colorado Schedule Analysis
Head Coach: Deion Sanders (4th year, 16-21 at Colorado; 7th year overall, 43-27)
Best Case / Worst Case: Get and stay in Big 12 title contention / Colorado ends up as the conference’s weakest team
Key Player: Julian Lewis, redshirt freshman quarterback
2025 Record: 3-9
Biggest Question: Can the offensive line, rebuilt with transfers, deliver a night-and-day upgrade?
Sacks: Opponents 38 for 297 yards, Colorado 13 for 77 yards
Passing Yards: Opponents 2,438, Colorado 2,434
Scoring: Opponents 366 points, Colorado 251 points
Brennan Marion has joined as the new offensive coordinator, bringing a reputation for crafting potent offenses anchored by a strong ground game. The Buffs are ready to rise. Colorado finished 114th in the nation in total offense, 110th in rushing, and averaged only 20.9 points per game. Plenty of talent surrounds the program, but it must come together, especially along the offensive line.
The receiving corps is loaded. Danny Scudero, a small yet explosive target, dominated last season for San Jose State with 88 receptions for 1,297 yards and ten touchdowns. DeAndre Moore is one of the country’s top transfer additions from Texas, and Joseph Williams returns after finishing second on the team last year with 37 catches for 489 yards. Julian Lewis is a gifted recruit who redshirted last season, took his lumps, but showed the potential for greatness. He needs to improve his accuracy, but he possesses the tools to explode with the help of the established receivers.
The focus is clear: get the passing game going again. Colorado has to build more consistency in the air to complement a potentially improved ground attack. The challenge lies in melding a talented, transfer-heavy roster into a cohesive unit capable of competing at a high level in the Big 12. If the pieces click—the line blocks better, the quarterback grows more confident, and the receivers create separation—the Buffs could climb into title contention. If not, they risk another season mired in inconsistency and frustration.