Colorado football got a grim recruiting update on top 2025 quarterback target Bryce Underwood on January 5: the Belleville star is zeroing in on a decision, and CU is nowhere to be seen in the final push from schools.
"Sources familiar with the situation believe the Bayou Bengals remain the team to beat when it comes to Underwood's services," LSU's Zach Nagy wrote. "He's taken several visits to LSU, including a game day visit this fall, where the Tigers began separating themselves from the pack."
It's not all bad, though. Not even Nagy is fully confident in LSU's ability to completely shutdown Underwood's recruitment so far out from when he'd actually have to put pen to paper to sign his NLI.
"We've already seen experts within the industry log predictions for Underwood to end up in Baton Rouge, but again, there is over a year until the top prep player officially puts pen to paper," he wrote.
Coach Prime would likely agree with Nagy. He has previously slammed the current recruiting system, full of flips and de-commitments, and even slammed the kids themselves for not being willing to commit to a girlfriend.
“A kid ain’t even faithful to his girlfriend -- You think (he’s) gonna be faithful to a school? Come on, man, that’s an emotional thing,” Deion Sanders said (h/tThe Athletic’s David Ubben).
“What I wish the NCAA would do, if you’re committed somewhere, you can’t go on any other visits. If you’re committed, that means you’re committed. You can’t go on no other visits. Why would you be committed but you’re still letting kids go on other visits? That means you just playing.”
Bryce Underwood landing with Colorado football hinges on 2024 success
What 2025 recruits need to see from Colorado in 2024 is a clear step forward in their Big 12 jump. If they don't, or if worse yet, they see regression, there's a strong possibility these kids will lose faith in Coach Prime even sticking around for their arrivals.
As much as Sanders has pledged his love of and loyalty to CU, constant negativity from a fanbase whose expectations were in the ground before he got there could push him to look into a bigger opportunity -- or perhaps even a scenario in which he continues coaching his two sons in the NFL. He's denied wanting to be a pro coach, but he values family. That situation could be fluid.
Underwood is one of the biggest dominos in the 2025 class, and regardless of what he chooses in the coming weeks, every school could have a shot to change his mind.
Colorado football could be a unique opportunity once Shedeur Sanders leaves, but to spurn the LSU's, Michigan's, and Alabama's of the world, Underwood would have to see No. 2 raise the ceiling to heights not seen in decades at CU.