Deion Sanders has had better Wednesdays than this.
Half an hour after star WR Omarion Miller announced his intentions to enter the Transfer Portal, star safety Tawfiq Byard followed suit:
BREAKING: Colorado starting Safety Tawfiq Byard plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports⁰⁰The past 2 seasons he’s totaled 140 Tackles, 16.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, 2 FF, & 2 INT⁰⁰2 years of eligibility left ⁰⁰https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/OkKJFjz7Gx
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 17, 2025
That's Colorado's best offensive and defensive player from last season gone in under an hour. Sanders talked a big game about turning things around in Boulder following a 3-9 campaign in 2025. His ability to get things back on the right track just took a devastating blow.
Miller took on a starring role for Colorado at WR this season, filling the void left by the departures of Travis Hunter and LaJohntay Wester, among others. He finished his junior season with 808 yards and eight touchdowns.
Byard was Colorado's best defender on a well-below-average defense. He racked up 79 tackles with a pair of forced fumbles and an interception. He was one of the lone bright spots on a Buffs defense that was consistently torched.
Omarion Miller and Tawfiq Byard's transfers are devastating for Coach Prime
There's no sugarcoating it: these are devastating blows for Colorado's ability to field a competitive team in the Big 12 next season. There was a dearth of talent on the roster already, and now two of the most talented players in the country have chosen to move on to perceived greener pastures.
Miller spent three years at Colorado and had the breakout junior season that fans had been waiting for. He'll be highly sought after in the Transfer Portal as one of the top receivers available. There was optimism that he would return for his final season of eligibility, and the connection he quickly formed with freshman QB Julian Lewis had Colorado fans excited for what was to come in 2026.
Byard transferred to Colorado last season after spending two seasons with South Florida. He'll also have one season of eligibility remaining. Byard figured to be the player Colorado's 2026 defense was built around. But with only one season left to play - and questions surrounding the defensive coaching staff - Byard wasn't willing to risk sticking it out for another season.
Like Miller, Byard will be one of the top names available in the Transfer Portal.
Regardless of who Sanders brings in via the portal, he'll be hard-pressed to find anyone at either position as talented as the guys he is losing.