Colorado Faces Big 12 Reality Check After Lindy’s Low Projection

The Colorado Buffaloes football team is coming off one of its best seasons in years under coach Deion Sanders.

After some growing pains in Year 1, the Buffs turned things around with a 9-4 record and a 7-2 finish in Big 12 play, which left them in a tie for first place but out of the championship game.

Along the way, Sanders made waves, but his players also made names for themselves. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, his son, had one of the best seasons in CU history under center.

Travis Hunter, the two-way superstar who spurned FBS schools to join Sanders at Jackson State at the start of his career and followed him to CU, won the Heisman Trophy in December.

Both are in the NFL now. So, the next challenge awaits Coach Sanders, who is dealing with health issues that have kept him away from summer camps in Boulder.

Lindy’s Sports recently published its preview for the Big 12, including the Buffaloes. Heartland College Sports will weigh in with our previews later this summer. 

The magazine picked CU to finish 12th in the Big 12. Here are three thoughts on the preview.

TWO MASSIVE HOLES

Naturally, a good portion of Lindy’s preview was wrapped up in how the Buffs would replace two players — quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy.

Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns. Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns and played at cornerback.

That means Colorado needs three players to replace the pair. Kaidon Salter is the likely starter at quarterback. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in leading Liberty to the 2023 Conference USA title and the Fiesta Bowl. He’ll be a nice fit for the offense.

In terms of receiving, none of Lindy’s projected starters are returning starters — Omarion Miller, Dre’lon Miller, and Joseph Williams. None have had the opportunity to distinguish themselves, but will get the chance this season.

There is better coverage at cornerback. DJ McKinney is a returning starter, and Oklahoma transfer Makari Vickers should play a significant role.

MOUNTAINS UP FRONT

One of the criticisms of Sanders early on at CU was about how he and his coaching staff went about building their offensive and defensive lines. This is what Lindy’s had to say about the talent this year:

“The offensive and defensive lines are deeper and more talented than either of Sanders’s previous CU rosters.”

Building up offensive and defensive lines takes time. Heck, it took Texas time. But the Buffs can win some games with offensive linemen like Jordan Seaton and defensive linemen like Samuel Okunlola starting every game.

POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS

Lindy’s noted the improvement of CU’s defense from Year 1 to Year 2. The unit went from allowing 34.8 points per game to allowing 23.1 ppg. That’s a tremendous improvement year over year.

But there was a caveat last season. There was a clear distinction in how the unit performed in wins and losses. In wins, Colorado allowed 18.7 ppg. In losses, Colorado allowed 33.0 ppg.

Somehow, the Buffs’ defense must flatten the curve. But in those four losses, the offense didn’t help — or perhaps the opposing defense was too good?

In those nine wins, CU averaged 39.4 ppg. In those four losses, CU averaged 18.3 ppg.

Maybe, last year, the Buffs just lost to the teams they were supposed to lose to? CU will get another crack at Kansas State and BYU, two of its losses, this season.