Colorado coach Deion Sanders lived a charmed existence final 12 months, driving Heisman winner Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders to a historic nine-win season. They have been the story of faculty soccer, watched and talked about by all.
If the Huge 12 opener towards Houston is any indication, these glory days are already over.
The Buffaloes seemed horrifically overmatched in a 36-20 loss to Houston that frankly wasn’t at the same time as shut as the ultimate rating. Houston took a 13-0 lead within the first half, jumped out to a 19-point lead within the fourth quarter and have been capable of coast to the end line, an embarrassing consequence for some of the high-profile groups in faculty soccer.
Houston had not recorded 400 yards in a sport since a 43-41 loss to Rice on Sept. 9, 2023. They haven’t recorded 400 yards towards a convention opponent since they have been nonetheless members of the American Convention. The Cougars simply eclipsed that mark towards the Buffaloes, rolling up 430 yards — together with clearing 200 on the bottom. Conner Weigman performed one of many best video games of his profession, speeding for 2 scores for the primary time as a university starter.
Actually, there have been dangerously few causes for optimism for Colorado. The Buffs have been outgained by almost 150 yards. Houston held the ball for almost 15 extra minutes. They ran 20 extra performs as a result of the Buffaloes have been unable to get UH off the sector. Houston received basically in each part of the sport towards Sanders’ third-year roster.
“I am misplaced for phrases,” Sanders mentioned after the sport. “Nobody may’ve advised me that this sport would end up like this with the week of preparation we had.”
However with all of the turnover of the previous a number of years, can you actually be shocked by something?
On a shaky basis
Colorado has misplaced 74 gamers to the switch portal over the previous two years, almost an entire scholarship roster. Out of 21 gamers in Sanders’ 2023 recruiting class, solely 5 are nonetheless on the roster. A small few, like receiver Omarion Miller, flashed instantly. Almost all the relaxation have been shoved out, with the bulk touchdown at different energy convention faculties.
Sanders describes his participant acquisition type as NFL-like, however that is faculty soccer. One of the best rosters are revamped the course of years, not simply acquired.
Sanders made his huge transfer earlier than the UH sport, naming former third stringer Ryan Staub the beginning quarterback over two costly offseason additions. Staub battled onerous, throwing for 204 yards and speeding for one more 36 — with a fumble into the top zone that was recovered by Zach Atkins for a landing. However with seven tackles for loss and three sacks allowed, his supporting forged did not do a lot to assist.
Possibly the one brilliant spot is the speeding sport had just a few explosive performs, which has been a rarity within the Sanders period. However after handing Houston coach Willie Fritz essentially the most dominant Huge 12 win of his profession, the Primetime Buffs are reeling.
It would not get simpler
This is essentially the most damning situation: Houston is without doubt one of the extra winnable video games on the schedule. Heading into the season, the Cougs sat with a Vegas win whole of 5.5, and have been thought-about a consensus bottom-five workforce within the league. As a substitute, they took Colorado to the cleaners.
A foul sport towards a resurgent Houston workforce could possibly be forgiven, nevertheless it solely continues the development. Due to some putrid offense, Colorado wanted second half heroics to lastly draw back from Delaware. Regardless of amassing turnovers on Georgia Tech’s first three possessions, they have been outgained by 158 yards and allowed an astonishing 320 yards on the bottom.
After Wyoming, the Buffaloes have 4 straight video games towards opponents ranked top-30 in SP+, all of which Colorado might be heavy underdogs. For comparability, Houston got here into the weekend forty eighth.
Kansas State no less than seems to be like a way more manageable sport, however Arizona immediately seems like a problem. Reigning Huge 12 champ Arizona State additionally stays on the schedule. Outdoors of Wyoming, Colorado may legitimately be an underdog in each remaining sport; even replicating the 4-8 of 2023 would take some luck.
Life after Shedeur and Travis was at all times going to be a problem. The pair ranked as some of the dynamic over the previous few years and are each on NFL rosters now. Whereas offensive sort out Jordan Seaton and true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis each match the pedigree of the pair, there is no one on the roster with surefire faculty soccer manufacturing.
If favorites win out, Colorado could possibly be sitting at 2-6 heading into November. Do celebrities nonetheless flock to the sideline of a last-place Huge 12 workforce? Are recruits flocking to a Colorado program with out Travis and Shedeur? Early returns aren’t nice, this system sits at No. 83 in recruiting. Are there even any extra playing cards to play after throwing all three quarterbacks out with wildly combined outcomes? Is there any approach ahead with out a multi-year roster plan in Boulder?
Colorado handed Sanders the largest teaching contract within the Huge 12 over the offseason, a five-year, $54 million deal. Sanders has already dramatically elevated the model and advertising worth of the college.
With out Shedeur and Travis, although, the Louis is wanting awfully counterfeit.
