For much of the 2025 offseason, much speculation has been made about the future of the Colorado Buffaloes. With star players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter moving on to the NFL, many pundits have predicted a downturn for the program under head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. But beneath the surface-level narratives, a different story is taking shape—=. one that reveals a program gaining momentum, improving its roster, and setting the stage for long-term success.
The prevailing media storyline has been skeptical, if not outright dismissive, of Colorado’s prospects. Questions have swirled: Can the Buffaloes recover from losing their two biggest stars? Is Coach Prime’s tenure destined to be a flash in the pan? These takes often miss the deeper, data-driven reality. When you look under the hood at Colorado, the numbers and recruiting trends paint a far more optimistic picture.
One of the clearest signs of Colorado’s upward trajectory is its recent recruiting surge. According to SI.com, in just 24 hours, the Buffaloes pulled off multiple recruiting wins, highlighted by the commitments of four-star corner Preston Ashley and fellow cornerback Maurice Williams, who flipped from Liberty to Colorado. They join three-star tight end Gavin Mueller and three-star edge rusher Domata Peko Jr., giving Coach Prime four solid building blocks for the future.
Meanwhile, Colorado is making a serious play for four-star quarterback Michael Clayton II, currently committed to Illinois, but now rumored to be considering a flip to Boulder. The Buffaloes’ staff has also prioritized the quarterback battle between freshman Julian Lewis and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, ensuring the most critical position on the field is well-stocked for years to come.
While some critics point to the overall volume of recruits as a concern, a closer look at the numbers tells a different story. Colorado’s average recruit and transfer ratings have steadily improved each year under Coach Prime. In 2022, the average transfer rating was 85.6; by 2025, it had jumped to 88.91. The average recruit rating has also climbed, from 84 in 2022 to an impressive 90.66 for the 2025 class.
This steady rise in talent acquisition signals a healthy, sustainable program. Rather than relying on a handful of superstars, Colorado is building depth and versatility across the roster. As Deion Sanders himself put it, “This team is not going to be the same without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter—I think it can be better. I think overall as a team it is going to be a better unit than we had last year.”
It’s easy to get caught up in the departure of headline names, but football is still a team sport. The narrative that Colorado was a two-man show is contradicted by both the numbers and the evolving roster. The Buffaloes’ improvement in win totals—from 1-11 before Sanders arrived, to 4-8 in his first season, to a 9-4 record and a bowl appearance in 2024 demonstrates that the program is trending in the right direction. It’s not like Sanders and Hunter were the only payers that got better in Colorado between 2023 and 2024. Those two stars were elite both seasons and the 5 additional wins came from having a better roster around them.
The coaching staff in Colorado deservers a lot of credit for focusing on developing younger players in 2024. There was definitely the temptation to turn the season into the “Hunter and Sanders” show and just do everything possible to rely on the two stars. But that didn’t happen, as evidence by the fact that Sanders statistics were essentially the same in terms of volume between 2024 and 2023. Instead, Colorado continued to focus on player growth and development.
Much of the skepticism surrounding Colorado appears to be rooted in personal biases against Coach Prime. For whatever reason, the media has been trying to bury this Colorado program. It’s likely because they don’t like Coach Prime. But at a certain point, credit must be given where it’s due.Sanders has delivered an impact that extends beyond the field. He’s reinvigorated fundraising, NIL dollars, and national attention, all while building a talent pipeline.
No one is claiming Colorado is a lock for the national championship this season. But the data makes one thing clear: the Buffaloes are trending toward playoff contention. The foundation is being laid for sustained success, with a focus on process, momentum, and smart roster-building. As the 2026 recruiting cycle heats up and the new season approaches, Colorado fans have every reason to be excited.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the SMI College Football Show YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
