Paul Finebaum Reveals Colorado's College Football Playoff Chances

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Nov 15, 2024 6:00 PM ET

Under Deion Sanders' leadership, the Colorado Buffaloes have experienced an impressive bounce-back college football season in 2024. The Buffaloes have won five games in the past two seasons, including a 4-8 record during Sanders' first season last year.

This season, the Buffaloes are ranked No. 17 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and have an overall record of 7-2. Colorado is No. 2 in the Big 12 standings. If it wins its upcoming games against the Utah Utes, Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys, it will qualify to compete for the Big 12 championship.

On ESPN's "First Take," Paul Finebaum suggested that if the Buffaloes can keep the outside noise out of the building, they will win out.

"If he can manage to do that, and I think he can, his players have shut out everything in the past," Finebaum said. "Then I think they'll win out, get into the playoff and we are having one of the great stories in college football history."

The outside noise Finebaum is referring to consists of rumors suggesting that Sanders may leave Colorado after this season. If the position becomes available, ESPN's Rex Ryan believes he could be a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys.

There are also opinions that Sanders would remain at Colorado as long as his sons played for the Buffaloes. This is anticipated to be the final season for both Shedeur and Shilo Sanders.

When asked by his former NFL teammate and current Fox Sports analyst Michael Irvin on "Speak" if he would consider leaving Colorado for Dallas, Sanders quickly dismissed the idea.

"I love it where I am," Sanders told Irvin.

.@michaelirvin88 asked @DeionSanders about coaching the Cowboys... Watch until the end to see Prime's response pic.twitter.com/wonYbtDR4H
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 13, 2024

Sanders then displayed a video of the stadium behind him and once again expressed his love for Colorado. Currently, it appears that Sanders is working to manage any external distractions so that he can keep the focus on the upcoming season.

If he succeeds in this, Finebaum believes the Buffaloes could be on their way to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

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

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