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Colorado Dealt Significant Injury Blow Before 2025 Season Opener

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 5:07 PM ET

The Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders are opening up the 2025 season at home against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET.

However, the offense will be starting the season without redshirt junior Dallan Hayden, who, along with sophomore Micah Welch, was one of two Colorado running backs to be named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist.

Dallan Hayden to Miss Start of the 2025 Season

Unfortunately for the Buffaloes, Hayden is set to miss the start of the 2025 season, with Christopher Neely of Thee Pregame Show reporting, “Dallan is going to be down a couple of weeks with a hand issue.”

Last season was also Hayden's first season with Colorado, and he dealt with injuries then, too. He wound up missing two games after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Buffaloes' matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

By the end of the year, his production was limited, appearing in 11 games, racking up just 64 carries, 196 yards and one touchdown. Though he was effective as a receiver, hauling in 17 catches for 132 yards.

During his two years with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2022 and 2023), though, he was a bit more impressive with 130 carries, 663 yards, six touchdowns, five receptions, and 21 yards.

Colorado's Running Back Battle Without Dallan Hayden

However, Hayden had a chance to see a serious bump in production, considering he was battling for the starting spot with Welch, senior DeKalon Taylor and redshirt senior Simeon Price.

He was making some serious noise too, with Jack Freeman of Buffaloes Wire reporting he was impressive during the Buffaloes' spring practice, while highlighting his "multi-dimensional aspect."

With him now out of the picture, though, the battle to be the first running back on the field for Colorado's season opener against Georgia Tech just got thinner.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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