On Sept. 16, 2023, all was well in Boulder, Colo.
After a thrilling overtime victory over Colorado State, Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes were 3-0, ranked No. 19 and were the talk of the college football world.
Just one week later, however, the Buffaloes were blown out by the Oregon Ducks, seeing both their hype and season come crashing down to earth at the speed of light.
That 42-6 loss set the wheels in motion for an incredible collapse last fall. Sanders and Colorado finished the season with a 4-8 record and Buffs fans were left wondering how it all went wrong.
While every new season is a fresh start, it seems like the lack of momentum from 2023 has carried over to 2024 as Colorado’s lackluster performance against Nebraska showed on Saturday.
Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers deserve credit for an impressive 28-10 victory, but Colorado’s lack of intensity and physicality was painfully obvious on a night when Sanders could only helplessly watch on.
Sanders deserved his flowers for his time as head coach at Jackson State from 2020-22, but if it wasn’t obvious in 2023 that he’s not ready for the bright lights of Power Four football, Saturday’s game was just another example.
It’s not as if Colorado is still trotting out players from its 1-11 squad in 2022, either. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are both potential NFL prospects, and Sanders’ reputation as a football legend has brought in a host of talented players who are capable of winning games in the Big 12.
Unfortunately, whether it be the culture, tangible issues with the coaching staff or a lack of big-game experience, Sanders and the Buffs haven’t been able to put any results together since September 2023. A flimsy 31-26 season-opening win over North Dakota State did little to quiet the questions in Boulder, and Saturday’s result only reinforced the narrative that Colorado simply isn’t built to be a contender.
It may be true that a coach who only has 14 games under his belt at a Power Four school shouldn’t be put under such an intense microscope, but when a program is as hyped up and promoted as Colorado, that’s just a perk (or a detriment, depending on results) of the job.
The only way for Sanders and Colorado to regain credibility? Win football games. A home matchup with Colorado State awaits next Saturday with bouts against Big 12 heavyweights Kansas State, Utah and Oklahoma State looming.
The Buffs have time to turn this season around, but Sanders’ honeymoon is officially over.
