The Colorado Buffaloes are a completely different program in their second season under head coach Deion Sanders.
Sanders’ polarizing first year as head coach saw the team finish the season with a 4-8 record and be combative with the media, local and national.
So far in 2024, Sanders and the Buffaloes have largely avoided the national spotlight, cruising to a 5-2 record including 3-1 in conference play. Colorado is in the thick of the Big 12 race, and may find itself in the College Football Playoff if the cards fall their way.
Two-way star Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders have been exceptional this season, and both find themselves on Heisman watchlists.
“We’re not who we used to be. But we sure ain’t where we wanna be,” Deion Sanders said Saturday after the team surpassed its 2023 win total with a 34-7 win over the Arizona Wildcats.
Notably, Colorado has a new offensive and defensive coordinator this season. Former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur shared offensive coordinator duties last season with Sean Lewis, but when Lewis took the San Diego State Aztecs head coaching job in the offseason,
Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston joined the team after seven seasons with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Livingston coached Cincinnati’s safeties and defensive backs but had never been a coordinator. It’s worked out for Sanders and the Buffaloes, as the team’s defensive numbers are significantly better.
According to The Athletic, Colorado is 62nd in the nation in yards allowed per game and 47th in points allowed per game. This is a massive jump from last season, when the Buffs finished 115th and 124th, respectively.
Colorado will look to move to 6-2 on Saturday when it hosts the Cincinnati Bearcats.
