Colorado's defense once again struggled, particularly at the point of attack, in a 24-21 home loss to BYU on Saturday night that dropped the Buffs to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Big 12. With back-to-back ranked opponents ahead, this season is on the verge of getting away from Deion Sanders and his team.
Colorado's three losses have something in common: in all three, the Buffs have surrendered over 200 rushing yards. They surrendered 166 in the win over Wyoming. The defense, particularly against the run, simply has not been good enough. Especially with a veteran group of defensive linemen, which many figured in the preseason would be the strength of the defense, the consistent lapses against the run cannot happen.
Coach Prime was clearly frustrated about in the postgame. He offered a blunt, one-word response when asked if he was satisfied with how the defense has come along so far this season:
"No," Sanders answered. "Next question."
Colorado DC Robert Livingston is on the clock to get things fixed
Coach Prime's frustration is bad news for Colorado DC Robert Livingston. The second-year DC did great work last season in helping the Buffaloes improve. But the backslide through five games in 2025 cannot be ignored, either.
Colorado's yards per play defensive rankings:
2023: 105th
2024: 17th
2025: 85th
Livingston took over a defense that was statistically one of the worst in the country in 2023 and made it a Top 25 unit a year ago. It's not a surprise with what the Buffs lost in the secondary that Colorado would take a step backwards in 2025. But while the pass defense has certainly been mediocre (49th in pass yards per game allowed), it's been the run defense that has caused the majority of the issues (111th in rush yards per game allowed).
Teams don't even have to attack Colorado through the air and put the ball in harm's way because the Buffaloes can't stop anyone on the ground.
If that trend continues, and there has been nothing so far this season that would indicate otherwise, then Colorado is in serious trouble. Coach Prime knows that. You aren't going to win many games when you give up over 200 yards on the ground.
At 2-3, the only realistic goal left for Colorado is bowl eligibility. They are clearly not a serious contender in the Big 12 after an 0-2 start in conference play. That's okay. This always felt like a transition year as the program moved on from Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.
But missing a bowl game would be a disappointing result, and a blow to the program Coach Prime is trying to build in Boulder. It would also likely lead to some widespread staff changes, including at defensive coordinator.