As much as a team coached by Deion Sanders can, Colorado is flying under the radar heading into the 2025 season. After losing record-setting QB Shedeur Sanders and Heisman-winning two-way WR/CB Travis Hunter, fans, media, and even other Big 12 coaches don't see the Buffaloes being a legitimate conference contender this year.
Sanders led Colorado to a major jump from year one to year two, improving the Buffaloes' record by five wins. After a 4-8 debut campaign, Colorado went 9-4 last season and finished tied for first place in the Big 12 standings, missing out on a championship game appearance by way of a tiebreaker.
With the younger Sanders and Hunter gone, most believe a rebuilding year is in store in Boulder.
Fox college football analyst - and former Colorado QB - Joel Klatt is a bit higher on the Buffaloes' potential for 2025 than most. His reasoning makes sense, and it's something that seems to be consistently overlooked by everyone else.
Colorado should be massively improved on the lines of scrimmage
"I think they should be good at the quarterback position," Joel Klatt told Buffzone's Brian Howell at Big 12 Media Days.
"What I think is more important is that the line of scrimmage is getting better and better and better and deeper," said Klatt.
Sanders and the Buffs had plenty of skill position talent in his first two seasons in Boulder, but it takes time to build out the lines of scrimmage. The offensive line was terrible in year one, and that blew up a once-promising season. The OL improved last year, along with the entire defense, and Colorado saw a five-win improvement.
Even with the loss of some key players, Colorado should be much improved once again up front.
"Two years ago, they had some marquee talent on the outside, but the line of scrimmage was really poor, and they tried to play around it," Klatt said. "They got a little bit better last year, and they should be a little bit better on the line of scrimmage this year. And I think that alone should help them overcome some of those losses on the outside."
There's depth and experience on the OL, headlined by former 5-star recruit Jordan Seaton, who was one of the best freshmen in college football a year ago. The left side of the OL will be the strength of the offense, as next to Seaton will be Memphis transfer Xavier Hill, who was an All-AAC performer with the Tigers last season.
The other three spots will also be occupied by veteran transfers: C Zy Crilser (Illinois), RG Zarian McGill (LA Tech), and RT Mana Taimani (Ole Miss).
An inexperienced offensive line will make it easier as Colorado breaks in a new QB, either Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter or true freshman JuJu Lewis. Salter brings a new dynamic to the Colorado offense with his dual-threat ability, and with Colorado being improved up front, their rushing attack could be one of the best in the country.
As fancy and wide open as football has gotten nowadays, it's still a simple game. You've got to be able to block the other team, and you need to be difficult for them to block you. The Buffaloes have improved on the lines of scrimmage, and that should make them a competitive team in 2025, capable of overcoming the loss of Sanders and Hunter.