Colorado’s Skid Renews Questions About Deion Sanders’s Roster Model

Colorado’s season started with an upset win over Georgia Tech on the road, followed by a 52–21 win over Weber State at home. But while the Buffaloes nearly matched last season’s win total (3) in their first two weeks, that optimism has quickly been replaced by angst. 

Colorado is currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak—all of the defeats coming by double-digit margins—and enters this week’s bye with major questions, particularly at quarterback. The Buffs initially led No. 12 Texas Tech 7–3, but were then outscored 26–0 in a second half highlighted by four turnovers and two missed field goals. 

The schedule doesn’t let up either; Colorado plays No. 12 Utah next Saturday, followed by No. 18 Oklahoma State on Oct. 24. 

“We’ve been horrible, don’t sugarcoat it,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said after Colorado’s 29–7 loss to Texas Tech last Saturday. “Seven points? You’re not gonna win. Not gonna win. Don’t sugarcoat it no more. Just tell it what it is.” 

The Big Issue 

Colorado’s offense has struggled mightily, ranking 124th nationally in scoring. Two years ago, the Buffaloes signed five-star quarterback Julian Lewis as Shedeur Sanders’s expected successor. The younger Sanders even passed a set of car keys to Lewis in his commitment video to Colorado. That metaphor, however, has not materialized.  

Lewis, who carries a $1 million NIL (name, image, and likeness) valuation according to On3, was benched two weeks ago in Colorado’s 23–13 loss to Baylor. He was replaced by Isaac Wilson, younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson, but the results haven’t been much better. Through two weeks he has two touchdowns to three interceptions, and has completed 56.3% of his passes. 

The status of Colorado’s quarterback room is unknown after Sanders alluded to—but didn’t outright say—that quarterback was the team’s main issue. As for Lewis, the coach provided a cryptic message that suggests there’s a behind-the-scenes reason why he’s no longer the starter. 

“I’d love for Julian Lewis to come here and tell you what happened,” Sanders said. “I didn’t bench him. It didn’t happen like that. Julian Lewis didn’t play, so I won’t go there. I’m not going to say anything derogatory about the kid.”

Consistent Turnover 

Colorado has been the most active roster management program—for both coaches and players—in college football since Sanders was hired in 2023. But into Sanders’s fourth year, there are still questions about that model’s viability in college football. 

The Buffaloes have added around 169 transfers in Sanders’s tenure, while around 167 have transferred out, according to projections from 247Sports and On3—an average of 42 transfer ins and 42 transfer outs in each year. There have been great successes such as Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and others, who helped Colorado to a 9–4 season in 2024. Only there hasn’t been the same level of talent in the ensuing seasons. And recently, a few players were removed for behavioral reasons.

Following the Buffaloes’ 41–7 loss to Northwestern, Sanders made a remark about players laughing as they walked off the field and stated that it would be addressed. Those players were subsequently removed from the team, and all three were first-year transfers from other schools: Jah Jah Boyd (Indiana), Justin Eaglin (James Madison) and Paul Omodia (Lamar). 

Colorado did not have a player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, after having four draft picks the year before. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jordan Seaton (LSU) and wide receiver Omarion Miller (Arizona State) are draft-eligible players who transferred out after last season. 

The changes on the roster are compounded by the coaching turnover. Excluding 2023, when Sanders brought in his original coaching staff, Colorado has had at least six new on-field assistant coaches in each subsequent year. There are eight new coaches on this year’s staff—four on offense and four on defense—with new coordinators on both sides: Brennan Marion (offense) and Chris Marve (defense). It’s the third time in four years that Colorado’s had a new coordinator pairing. 

The result is a program still searching for an established identity and culture. This year’s team will need its strongest effort yet over the next few weeks, considering its opponents. There is still a level of confidence from Sanders, but it’s tempered with discomfort given the last few results. 

“I’m confident in them, and the unit as a group, particularly the defense,” Sanders said. “Am I comfortable with the offense? No. Am I comfortable with certain positions, defensively as well as offensively, as well as special teams? No. But these guys are not quitting.”