USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer had the perfect Teri Hatcher-inspired "Seinfeld" reference to discuss Travis Hunter and the Colorado football program's successes during the 2024 season.
"The Buffaloes are real, and Travis Hunter is spectacular. A reminder: Colorado won one stinkin’ game the season before it hired Deion Sanders. Only Coach Prime’s staunchest acolytes could have fathomed he’d have Colorado (8-2) knocking on the door of the playoff in his second season. Transfer additions unlocked necessary improvements at the lines of scrimmage," Toppmeyer wrote.
"Nobody will confuse Colorado with 2021 Georgia, but quarterback Shedeur Sanders benefits from better pass protection than last season, at least, and the defensive line doesn’t invite running backs to cruise on past. Hunter’s myriad of talents serve as an ace up the sleeve."
Joel Klatt knew Colorado football would be in Big 12 title contention before the season
Although his CU alumni status may have had something to do with it, Joel Klatt nailed the state of the Buffs in the offseason and nailed exactly how the season would go if Colorado's roster held up health-wise.
"There is a scenario where if Shedeur Sanders is healthy, and they maintain some of that health with guys on the outside, Travis Hunter, who I think is one of if not the best overall player in college football, there’s a chance that Colorado’s competing to go to the Big 12 Championship Game," Klatt said in June on The Herd (h/t AthlonSports).
"I would just make the argument that when evaluating Colorado, you can't just evaluate them in the current state of the race. Now, I think the play on the field is going to start to catch up with some of the expectations...I think that Colorado can win eight games. I think that they can double their win total from a year ago."
I wrote in June that, "If CU is at the top of the standings, a rebuilt offensive line will be a major factor, as would a not-last-place running game." I also challenged Robert Livingston to get the most out of a talent-rich secondary; which he did.
To be fair to Klatt, though, I didn't fully commit to Colorado being this good. He did.