Deion Sanders’ Colorado football team had a disappointing finish last season.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer orchestrated a major roster overhaul that helped Colorado attract some quality recruits in 2024. The Buffaloes’ 4-8 record in 2023 is an improvement over their 1-11 record the season before Sanders arrived.
But the Buffaloes will face an uphill battle when they begin their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference in late August. As the calendar turns to July, the conference’s football media preseason poll has been released.
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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders coaches his players during the first half of an NCAA spring college football game, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zarbowski)
The Big 12 Conference has expanded to 16 schools. Entering the 2024 season, media members projected the Buffaloes as the 11th best team in the conference.
Colorado’s roster is loaded with talent at several key positions: Buffaloes quarterback Shedul Sanders was an All-Big 12 selection and star wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter was named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Ex-Colorado player criticizes Deion Sanders’ approach to roster revamp
But some believe the Buffaloes’ shortcomings may prevent the team from winning much in 2024.
Colorado may enter some games this season as an underdog. The Buffaloes host North Dakota State in the regular season opener before traveling to Nebraska to take on in-state rival Colorado State.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedul Sanders (2) throws a pass during a PAC-12 Conference football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 23, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Buffaloes will return home to face Baylor University before traveling to UCF. The rest of Colorado’s schedule is as follows:
October 12 – Kansas State University
October 19 – Arizona
October 26 – Cincinnati
November 9 – Texas Tech University
November 16 – Utah
November 23 – Kansas
November 29 – Oklahoma State University
Colorado Buffaloes tight end Michael Harrison (87) celebrates with fans on the field after the Buffaloes’ 43-35 double-overtime win over the Colorado State Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 16, 2023 at Folsom Field. (Andy Cross/MediaNewsGroup/DenverPost via Getty Images)
Utah has landed the top spot in the Big 12 preseason poll, with Arizona State ranked No. 3. Check out the full preseason poll below:
1. Utah
2. Kansas State University
3. Oklahoma State University
4. Kansas
5. Arizona
6. Iowa State University
7. West Virginia
8. University of California, San Francisco
9. Texas Tech University
10. TCU
11. Colorado
12. Baylor
13. BYU
14. Cincinnati
15. Houston
16. Arizona State University
Colorado State University quarterback Shedul Sanders (2) attempts a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State University, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zarbowski)
The ever-confident coach Sanders will need to lead Colorado to a win during the regular season to erase the doubts surrounding the Buffaloes.
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Big 12 Conference media days are scheduled for July 9-10 in Las Vegas. Sanders missed last year’s Pac-12 Conference media days due to “routine follow-up” foot surgery.
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