Colorado Buffaloes 2024 College Football Season Preview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
As soon as Deion Sanders was named head coach of the Colorado football program, the media circus began in Boulder. Expectations skyrocketed and the campus of the University of Colorado was the coolest place to be seen or watch a game a year ago. However, despite starting the season 3-0 including a road win at national champion runner-up, TCU, the Buffaloes won just one game the rest of the season which was a win at Arizona State (27-24) on Oct. 7. After a busy offseason which saw 51 players leave in the transfer portal and 42 players join the squad, coach Sanders is ready for Year 2 in Boulder as the Buffaloes return to the Big 12 Conference after leaving in 2012.
On offense, Colorado is led by coach Prime’s son Shedeur Sanders, a projected future first-round draft pick in the NFL. During his junior year, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. The other players to watch on offense are senior wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who snagged 58 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns in 2023, and two-way player Travis Hunter, who had 721 receiving yards and five touchdowns on offense along with 31 total tackles and three interceptions.
The offensive line will be interesting to watch as they were one of the worst in the country a year ago, but three transfer starters look to fill the talent gaps.
The Buffaloes gave up 34.8 points per game in 2023; to fix the problem, a new defensive coordinator was brought in to improve this unit. Along with Hunter in the secondary, Shilo Sanders, coach Sanders’ other son, will be featured after he racked up 67 total tackles, four forced fumbles, and one interception. Senior safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig is another player to watch on defense. Silmon-Craig had 44 total tackles, three interceptions, and one sack last season.
Colorado doesn’t have any new additions to the front seven; there will be opportunities for players to step up to make plays.
Colorado kicks off their season on Thursday, August 29 by hosting the Bison of North Dakota State. North Dakota State, an FCS program, has a history of playing FBS programs close, so this could be a very competitive game under the lights in Boulder.
The Buffaloes will then have a quick two-game road trip where they travel to Nebraska and take on in-state rival Colorado State.
Colorado opens Big 12 play by hosting Baylor on Sept. 21 and then travel to Central Florida on Sept. 28 before their first bye week.
This break gives coach Sanders and his squad time to prepare for consecutive games against ranked opponents, at home against Kansas State on Oct. 12 and a road test at Arizona on Oct. 19.
On Oct. 26, Colorado will host Cincinnati before their second bye week. After their break, the Buffaloes will travel to Lubbock to battle Texas Tech before coming home to face one of the best teams in the Big 12, Utah, on Nov. 16.
The final road trip of the season will be to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to face the Jayhawks of the University of Kansas on Nov. 23. The regular season will conclude with a home game against Oklahoma State on Nov. 29.
The bad news is that there are even more eyes on Colorado during the second season under coach Sanders, and they have a strong schedule ahead in their return to Big 12.
The good news however is that they can’t be any worse than they were in 2023 as the program has brought in a new defensive coordinator and transfer help to fill needs to build on that 4-8 record from last year. With stars on both sides of the ball and a coaching staff looking to improve, bowl eligibility is not out of the realm of possibility in 2024.
2024 Season Projection: 6-6
Photo credit: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images