It has been nearly a year since Colorado finished the season 9-4 to earn its first bowl bid since 2020.
Deion Sanders brought two specific Louie luggage items with him from Jackson State to Boulder in 2023 that played a significant role in the team's success.
Those two items were Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.
On and off the field, the two were a dynamic duo at Colorado. With Travis Hunter's two-way play and Shedeur's electric arm, they put Colorado football back on the map.
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, caught 92 passes for 14 touchdowns and 1,152 yards. His defensive statistics included 11 pass deflections, 31 tackles, and four interceptions.
As for Sanders, he finished 8th in the Heisman voting, but was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for the best quarterback.
Each played an important role in the success of the other.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Hunter second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, while Sanders slid all the way down to the fifth round to the Cleveland Browns.
Both players had very different rookie seasons, with Travis playing well until he suffered a season-ending lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury in practice.
After an injury to Dillion Gabriel, Shedeur was thrust into action Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. His first start came against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 and he has been the starter ever since.
According to the NFL's preliminary schedule for the 2026 season, the Browns will play the Jacksonville Jaguars.
our 2026 opponents are officially set
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 7, 2026
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Detailed information regarding the games will be released later this spring.
Since the Browns are looking for a new head coach, things can change quickly in the NFL.
In spite of a depleted offensive line and a lack of offensive weapons, Shedeur showed enough promise to earn the team's attention as a starter moving forward.
Everything depends on the new coaching staff and whether they trust the signal caller.
At the moment, two of Colorado's biggest stars are set to play each other next year.