It's a bit odd that a Deion Sanders-coached team could possibly be flying under the radar, but after losing Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders to the NFL, that's exactly what the 2025 team is doing.
Big 12 coaches certainly don't view this team as a legitimate league contender despite the fact that they finished the regular season in a four-way tie for first place at 7-2. They missed out on the conference championship game due to tiebreakers, but the Buffaloes were extremely close to playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Per FanDuel, Colorado's over/under for wins this season is just 5.5. That feels a bit low, even with the losses of Sanders and Hunter. The Buffaloes won nine games last year, and Coach Prime has earned the benefit of the doubt.
Those guys aren't easily replaced - neither are receivers like LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn Jr. - but the cupboard is nowhere near bare in Boulder, either. Sanders has supplemented talent, and this team is good enough to remain right in the thick of the Big 12 race.
As Coach Prime said recently, this team might win differently in 2025, but they're going to win nonetheless.
One national college football analyst appears to agree with that sentiment.
Fox Sports' RJ Young ranks Colorado 25th in his Ultimate 136
Fox Sports national college football analyst RJ Young is higher on Coach Prime and the Buffaloes than most in 2025. In his Ultimate 136 - where he ranks every single FBS team - he placed Colorado at No. 25.
Young's reasoning is similar to mine on why Colorado may be better than most experts believe this season. What continues to be discounted is that the Buffs were the nation's worst rushing offense in the country a year ago. They should take a massive leap this season thanks to a deep and talented offensive line, a good stable of running backs, and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, who rushed for over 1600 yards for the Flames the last two seasons.
That's what Sanders means when he says Colorado is going to win differently this season. They might be more of a running team after being the most prolific passing offense in the country last season. Salter isn't Shedeur Sanders as a passer, but he brings a new dynamic to the offense with his ability to run, both in the designed QB run game and on scrambles on busted plays.
Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston did great work with Colorado last season in his first year on the job. He has quite a bit of talent to replace, but the Buffs should have one of the best defensive lines in the Big 12 to lead the charge.
Colorado probably isn't a national championship contender in 2025, but they're closer to being one than they are a sub-.500 football team. And in the wide-open Big 12, it wouldn't be a stunner to see the Buffaloes playing for the conference championship and a spot in the playoff.