​Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders used Super Bowl LX week to set an unmistakable target for the 2026 season after a disappointing 3-9 finish in 2025. Even as optimism for postseason play in Boulder seemed fragile, Sanders stood firm at Big 12 Media Days, delivering a blunt mandate: “We better win.” It’s a bold stance, and ESPN’s Heather Dinich isn’t buying the offseason buzz or Colorado’s chances of a postseason breakthrough. She projected a grimmer path for the Buffaloes this winter, suggesting they won’t just miss the Playoff chase; they may not contend for a Big 12 title either.
Dinich’s outlook is blunt: not a Playoff push, not a Big 12 push. “It’s BYU. Houston could be sneaky good. Arizona could be sneaky good. There are a lot of teams at the top half that can challenge Texas Tech for the Big 12 title.” She placed Colorado among the lower-tier teams in the conference. “Colorado’s not one of them,” she asserted, predicting the Buffaloes could end up near the bottom of the Big 12 standings.
For Sanders, the biggest challenge may be climbing from the cellar to relevance in a conference that features veteran, reliable quarterback rooms at BYU and Texas Tech. After Sheduer Sanders, the QB position has been unsettled, and handing the reins to redshirt freshman Julian Lewis raises more questions than assurances. Lewis brings raw talent but arrives with limited experience against Power Five competition, placing him toward the lower end among starting quarterbacks in the Power Four. The situation is further complicated by Brennan Marion’s fast-paced, innovative Go-Go offense, which Lewis will need to grasp quickly.
The Buffaloes are counting on an entirely rebuilt roster, entering the season with roughly 55% of their production returning from last year. That level of turnover makes the task of sustaining success daunting, and it’s precisely why analysts like Dinich remain cautious about Coach Prime’s assertions. The combination of a new quarterback dynamic and a heavy influx of transfer portal additions means Colorado faces a high-risk path to immediate improvement.
Sanders’ straightforward demand—win—serves as a blunt reminder that lofty offseason expectations must translate into on-field results. With a conference schedule that will test a rebuilt team and a quarterback room still finding its footing, Colorado’s 2026 trajectory remains uncertain. The challenge for Sanders will be translating his bold mandate into a competitive, consistent product on Saturdays, while analysts and fans alike watch closely to see whether the Buffaloes can defy the odds in a conference redefined by rapid roster turnover and high expectations.