The Colorado football team led by Deion Sanders had a disappointing end to last season.
Colorado managed to land some top recruits in 2024 as the Pro Football Hall of Famer orchestrated a massive roster overhaul. The Buffaloes' 4-8 record in 2023 was an improvement over their 1-11 mark the season before Sanders arrived.
But the Buffaloes will face an uphill battle when they open their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference in late August. As the calendar turns toward July, the conference's preseason football media poll has been revealed.
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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders directs players during the first half of an NCAA spring college football game Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Big 12 Conference has expanded to 16 schools. Entering the 2024 season, media members projected the Buffaloes to be the 11th-best team in the conference.
Colorado's roster features elite talent at a few key positions. Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders received All-Big 12 honors, while star wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter was named the preseason defensive player of the year.
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However, some seem to believe that the Buffaloes' shortcomings could prevent the team from racking up a significant amount of wins in 2024.
Colorado could enter several games next season as an underdog. The Buffaloes will host North Dakota State to open the regular season. They will then travel to Nebraska, followed by a matchup with in-state rival Colorado State.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) passes the ball during a PAC-12 conference football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Oregon Ducks on September 23, 2023 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Buffaloes return home to face Baylor, before traveling to UCF. The rest of Colorado's schedule is detailed below:
October 12 – Kansas State
October 19 – in Arizona
October 26 – Cincinnati
November 9 – at Texas Tech
November 16 – Utah
November 23 – in Kansas
November 29 – Oklahoma State
Colorado Buffaloes tight end Michael Harrison (87) celebrates with fans on the field after winning the Rocky Mountain Showdown against the Colorado State Rams 43-35 in double overtime at Folsom Field on September 16, 2023. (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Utah took the top spot in the Big 12 preseason poll, while Arizona State rounded out the list. The full preseason poll is included below:
1. Utah
2. State of Kansas
3. State of Oklahoma
4. Kansas
5. Arizona
6. State of Iowa
7. West Virginia
8. University of California at Berkeley
9. Texas Tech University
10. TCU
11. Colorado
12. Baylor
13. Brigham Young University
14. Cincinnati
15. Houston
16. State of Arizona
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The ever-confident Sanders will have to coach Colorado to a win during the regular season to dispel some of the doubts surrounding the Buffaloes.
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Big 12 media days are scheduled for July 9-10 in Las Vegas. Sanders missed last year's Pac-12 media days due to a “routine follow-up” procedure on his foot.
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