​The Colorado Buffaloes were excluded from the All-Big 12 preseason team released by the conference, yet they delivered stronger showings on the USA TODAY Sports all-conference lists. Among the Buffaloes’ notable mentions were wide receiver Danny Scudero, linebacker Gideon Lampron, and kick returner Quentin Gibson. While none earned a spot on the actual preseason team, all three are expected to be significant contributors in the upcoming year.
USA TODAY’s Big 12 preview also featured a preseason poll compiled by writers who cover the league. Colorado landed at No. 15 in the 16-team conference, narrowly above Iowa State. The poll is headed by Texas Tech, followed by BYU, Utah, and Houston, with Arizona rounding out the top five.
Deion Sanders’ program appears to be entering the 2026 season with fewer external distractions, though internal expectations remain high. Sanders spoke at Big 12 Media Days this week, saying, “it’s already turned, you just haven’t seen the fruit.” That sentiment reflects the belief within the program that progress is underway, even if tangible results haven’t yet manifested on the field.
Colorado will kick off the 2026 season with a stern test on the road against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, a fixture that will help set the tone for the year ahead.
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