I still remember watching that season opener against TCU, and honestly, I had my doubts. The University of Colorado football program had been struggling for years, and despite the hype surrounding Coach Prime's arrival, I wasn't convinced they could turn things around so quickly. But what unfolded over the next several months was nothing short of remarkable, reminding me of how quickly fortunes can change in sports - much like how that promising Gilas draftee showed such potential before his injury with the FiberXers after the trade from Terrafirma. Both situations demonstrate how a single transaction or coaching change can dramatically alter a team's trajectory.
The transformation began immediately, with the Buffaloes winning their first three games by an average margin of 22 points. Shedeur Sanders threw for 1,453 yards in just those first four games, completing 68.7% of his passes while Travis Hunter played an incredible 356 snaps on both offense and defense during that stretch. I've been covering college football for fifteen years, and I've never seen a player handle that kind of workload while maintaining elite performance on both sides of the ball. The offense averaged 38.2 points per game through September, while the defense created 11 turnovers during that same period. These numbers aren't just good - they're program-changing statistics that signaled Colorado was back in the national conversation.
Of course, the mid-season slump was inevitable, and frankly, I saw it coming. The offensive line depth concerns I'd noted in preseason became glaringly obvious when they gave up 24 sacks over a brutal three-game stretch against USC, Stanford, and UCLA. The defense, while creating turnovers, allowed an average of 489 yards per game during that difficult October period. Still, what impressed me was how the team responded to adversity. Unlike previous Colorado teams that might have folded, this group fought back to win crucial games against Oregon State and Arizona, showing the kind of resilience that championship programs are built upon.
Looking ahead to next season, I'm genuinely excited about what this program can achieve. With 87% of the offensive production returning, including Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, plus what I'm hearing about their recruiting class ranking in the top 25 nationally, the foundation is there for sustained success. They need to address the offensive line depth - that's priority number one in my assessment - and find a consistent pass rusher, but the core is solid. I predict they'll win at least nine games next season and potentially challenge for a spot in the Big 12 championship game within two years. The rise of Colorado football isn't just a one-season wonder - it's the beginning of what I believe will be a new era of prominence for a program with rich tradition that's been waiting too long to return to national relevance.