Colorado has to replace some major contributors from last season's nine-win squad, but none will be more difficult for Deion Sanders than his son, QB Shedeur Sanders, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
In the very least, Sanders has a couple of talented options at QB to lessen the sting there. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter is a proven starter at the college level, and his dual-threat ability will bring a new dynamic to the Buffaloes' offense that they haven't had.
There's also freshman JuJu Lewis, a consensus 4-star recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, who has flashed plenty of ability and is already pushing the veteran Salter for the starting job. Coach Prime was mum about which QB would be his starter this season.
Replacing Travis Hunter is another story entirely. You can't replace him. He was a generational player who left a major void for Colorado on both sides of the football. The two-way star was the best player in the country last season, and perhaps the most important.
Hunter's absence has a lot of prognosticators taking a wait-and-see approach on Colorado this season. Most seem to expect a bit of a rebuilding year in Boulder. You can count the Big 12's coaches in that group.
Colorado receives no votes to make the Big 12 Championship by league coaches
On3 polled the league's 16 coaches at Big 12 Media Days and asked them to project which teams would play in the conference title game.
With the Big 12 deciding to do away with the preseason coaches poll, this gave fans an inside look at, at least, which teams the coaches in the league feel are at the top of the totem pole. Where Colorado is positioned is unknown, but none of the coaches believe they are at the top.
The Buffaloes received no votes to make the Big 12 Championship, despite finishing in a tie for first last season with a 7-2 league record. Colorado missed out on a spot in the conference title game due to tiebreakers.
Kansas State is seen as the favorite in the league, picking up the most total votes in the poll, with six league coaches believing they will win the conference. Iowa State received the most runner-up votes with seven, and is predicted to face off with the Wildcats for the Big 12 Championship despite not picking up a single vote to win the league.
Arizona State (4), Texas Tech (3), TCU (2), and Baylor (1) all received votes to win the conference.
With his personality, it's not really possible for a Sanders-led team to fly under the radar, but it's clear that Colorado will be underdogs entering the 2025 season, which is nothing new in Boulder.