The Colorado Buffaloes’ 2025 college football season came to a dispiriting close, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering how a program that soared just a year ago could fall so far, so fast. After a promising 9-4 campaign under head coach Deion Sanders in 2024, the Buffaloes plummeted to a 3-9 record, finishing at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference. This dramatic reversal has cast a harsh spotlight on the team’s roster strategy, player development, and the future direction of the program.
When Deion Sanders, also known as “Coach Prime,” arrived in Boulder in 2022, he brought with him a wave of excitement and the undeniable star power of his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. These two were the backbone of Colorado’s resurgence, electrifying fans with their playmaking ability and helping the Buffaloes reach new heights. But as the 2025 season unfolded, it became clear that the magic had faded. With both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter gone, the Buffaloes struggled to find new leaders who could match their impact on the field.
The results were glaring. Not only did Colorado’s win-loss record nosedive, but the program also failed to make a mark in postseason honors. The Associated Press recently released its All-Big 12 first and second teams, and, for the first time in recent memory, not a single Colorado player was selected. The Buffaloes joined the West Virginia Mountaineers as the only teams in the conference without any representatives. Oklahoma State, another team mired in the conference’s lower tier, at least managed to avoid this ignominious distinction.
For many, the lack of All-Big 12 selections was not just a disappointing footnote—it was a reflection of deeper issues within the program. According to Tom Gorski, a beat reporter covering the Buffaloes, “It’s disappointing that the program didn’t have any players on the All-Big 12 first or second teams, but it underscores where Colorado football stands. Under Sanders, the program has regressed, and player development isn’t where it needs to be.”
Gorski’s assessment echoes a growing sentiment among fans and college football observers. The Buffaloes’ struggles in 2025 highlighted flaws that had previously been masked by their star players. With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter anchoring the team, Colorado could rely on flashes of brilliance to stay competitive. But with those talents gone, the team’s lack of depth and cohesion became painfully evident.
One of the most debated aspects of Deion Sanders’ tenure has been his heavy reliance on the transfer portal. While the portal can provide quick fixes and inject fresh talent, it is not a substitute for building a strong foundation through recruiting and developing high school players. This season, the limitations of that strategy became all too apparent. The attempt to replace Shedeur Sanders with quarterback Kaidon Salter didn’t pan out, and similar short-term solutions at other positions failed to deliver results.
“The roster still has significant work to reach even the middle tier of the conference, and Sanders’ continued reliance on the transfer portal hasn’t helped,” Gorski noted. “The program’s struggles in player development stem largely from that approach. For Colorado to compete in the Big 12, Sanders needs more than transfers—he must focus on building and developing players over time.”
In the cutthroat world of college football, quick fixes rarely yield sustained success. Sanders’ initial approach brought attention and a few high-profile wins, but as the Buffaloes’ 2025 season made clear, it also left the team vulnerable when star transfers moved on. The holes left by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter proved too large to fill in a single offseason, and the lack of a pipeline of homegrown talent left the Buffaloes grasping for answers.
Colorado’s predicament was shared by West Virginia, another program that found itself without any All-Big 12 honorees and languishing near the bottom of the standings. Oklahoma State, while also struggling, managed to avoid the complete shutout in conference accolades. For Colorado, however, the absence of any recognition was a wake-up call—a clear sign that the program needs more than just headline-grabbing transfers to reclaim its place among college football’s elite.
The challenge now facing Deion Sanders is formidable. To rebuild the Buffaloes into a contender, he must shift focus from the transfer market to player development and long-term team building. That means identifying and nurturing young talent, fostering a culture of improvement, and creating a roster that can grow together over multiple seasons. Without that foundation, even the most talented individual players will struggle to lift the program out of the conference basement.
Sanders’ reputation as a charismatic recruiter and motivator remains intact, but the 2025 season has exposed the limits of charisma alone. The Buffaloes’ fall from grace has forced a reckoning in Boulder, one that will require patience, discipline, and a renewed commitment to the fundamentals of college football success. Fans who reveled in last year’s triumphs are now left to wonder whether “Coach Prime” can adapt his methods and deliver the sustained progress the program so desperately needs.
As the offseason begins, all eyes are on Sanders and his staff. Will they double down on the transfer portal, or will they pivot to developing the next generation of Buffaloes? The answer could determine whether Colorado remains mired in mediocrity or begins the climb back to relevance in the ever-competitive Big 12.
One thing is certain: the 2025 season has provided a sobering lesson in the dangers of seeking shortcuts to success. The Buffaloes’ journey from conference darlings to cellar dwellers has been swift and jarring. But with the right adjustments, there’s still hope for a turnaround. For now, though, the Buffaloes and their fans must reckon with a tough reality—and the hard work that lies ahead if they hope to rise again.
