When the Colorado football team takes the field on Aug. 29 for the season opener against Georgia Tech, it will be a much different looking squad.
Many of the main attractions from the last two years – most notably quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy-winning receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter – are now in the NFL, as are some key supporting stars.
This is not a rebuilding project for head coach Deion Sanders, though, as he heads into his third season leading the Buffaloes.
“The next phase is, I think we’re going to win differently, but we’re going to win,” he said Friday at CU’s annual fall sports media day.
The 2024 campaign was one of the most thrilling in CU’s history, especially in recent years. At 9-4, the Buffs didn’t win a championship, but completed a quick rebuild from the 1-11 disaster that Coach Prime inherited when hired in December of 2022.
Last year, the Buffs won in dramatic fashion, including a Hail Mary touchdown pass to force overtime against Baylor; and dominating fashion, with six wins by 14 points or more.
It’s a whole new cast of characters this year, including at quarterback. Senior Kaidon Salter or freshman JuJu Lewis will start. Both might play at some point.
And, there’s been a repeated message from Coach Prime, his staff and players that CU will finally have an offensive line, a run game, and a defense that can physically match up with opponents.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the Hail Marys at the end of the game, but it’s going to be hell during the game, because we want to be physical and we want to run the heck out of the football,” Coach Prime said. “So it’s going to be a little different, but it’s going to be fun.”
One of the biggest differences this year could be with Coach Prime himself.
A Pro Football Hall of Famer who has been around the game his entire life, Sanders is still relatively new to coaching at the college level. His first game as a college coach was less than five years ago, when he led Jackson State to a 53-0 win against Edward Waters on Feb. 21, 2021, in the COVID-delayed FCS season.
His first game at the Power Four level was less than two years ago.
“I think I’ve grown tremendously,” said Sanders, who will celebrate his 58th birthday on Saturday. “I see and I understand who I am, what I am, how I am, where I’m going and how to get there.
“I’m a better man, which makes me a better coach.”
Sanders’ process for selecting assistant coaches has evolved. It’s a much different staff than the one he had two years ago at CU, as he has loaded up on coaches and former players from the NFL.
“I love college football, trust me, and I love the college game, but I’m somewhat attracted to the pro guys, because I think we see things the same way,” he said. “We have some college guys on the staff, and they’re phenomenal, and I need to see from their lens, as well, because what they add to the equation is tremendous. But I had to learn that about myself. I had to learn to go with my instincts.”
Sanders said there were times in games in 2023 he wouldn’t go with his instincts. Last year, he did.
“Now I’m going to even go more with my instincts,” he said. “I feel like our staff gets better and better and better every year. I feel like the roster gets better and better and better every year. … The product that you see behind the scenes and on the field is tremendous, and it gets better every year.”
Three weeks before the season opener, Coach Prime believes the pieces are in place for the 2025 Buffaloes to continue to find success.
“It’s a totally different team. They way they’re attacking it, the way they’re approaching it, it’s totally different from last season,” he said. “And I’m happy. I’m happy, I’m elated.
“We got some talent here. We just gotta make it do what it does.”
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