DONE DEAL: Colorado buffalos accepted Baylor Bear shortly after he announced his departure……
The buzz around the Colorado Buffaloes hasn’t quieted down since NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders took the reins as head coach. In fact, when Sanders kicked off his tenure with a stunning 3-0 start, including an upset victory over No. 17 TCU, many were quick to proclaim a new era in Colorado football.
However, that optimism faded fast. After their hot start, the Buffaloes crashed back down to earth, winning just one of their remaining nine games last season and finishing with a disappointing 4-8 record. This year, expectations were high again, with analysts like Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt boldly predicting the team would secure at least eight wins, potentially even nine
But following a sobering defeat to the Nebraska Cornhuskers this past weekend, those hopes now seem a bit too lofty.
In Saturday’s clash, Nebraska handed Colorado a crushing 28-10 loss, leaving many to question whether the team has truly improved since last year. Despite the hype, the Buffaloes have yet to shake off key weaknesses that plagued them throughout the previous season.
NFL legend Shannon Sharpe voiced his concerns on ESPN’s “First Take” earlier this week, highlighting some glaring issues that haven’t been addressed. “I was concerned when I saw them against North Dakota State,” Sharpe remarked. “They still can’t stop the run, can’t consistently pressure the quarterback, and they’re struggling to protect their own QB. It’s very concerning.”
The Buffaloes’ performance against Nebraska backed up Sharpe’s grim assessment. By halftime, the game was essentially over with Nebraska leading 28-0, dominating on both sides of the ball. Colorado’s quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, widely regarded as one of the top QBs in college football, had a rough outing. While Sanders did manage 244 passing yards with a touchdown, he also threw a pick-six and endured six sacks from the Cornhuskers’ relentless defense. The Buffaloes’ run game, meanwhile, was nonexistent-managing just 16 yards on 22 carries, a dismal 0.7 yards per attempt.
On the other side, Nebraska’s true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola had a solid game, steering his team to victory without getting sacked once. The Cornhuskers outrushed the Buffaloes with 149 yards at 4.3 yards per carry, showcasing a stark difference in both offensive and defensive lines.
The once-promising season now teeters on uncertainty. With many pointing to Colorado’s lack of progress in critical areas, the road ahead seems steeper than anticipated.
Yet, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the Buffaloes prepare for an in-state rivalry game against Colorado State next weekend. Last season’s showdown between the two teams was a thriller, with the Rams pushing Colorado to double overtime.
Whether Deion Sanders and his squad can turn things around remains to be seen, but another loss would raise serious questions about the trajectory of this much-hyped team.
