The Colorado Buffaloes are heading into fall camp with plenty to sort out after a rough 2026 season, one that ended at 3-9 overall and 1-8 in Big 12 play. For a team trying to turn the page, camp is where the real work starts.
The biggest issue is the one that never really goes away in Boulder: chemistry. Colorado brought in 42 players through the transfer portal and added 19 more on the recruiting trail, making this the most roster turnover the program has seen in the Coach Prime Era. That kind of overhaul can create problems fast, but the Buffs are banking on experience to smooth things over.
By average age, Colorado now has one of the oldest rosters in college football. That matters because Coach Prime and his staff clearly prioritized players who have already been through the college grind and produced at that level. The idea is simple enough: a veteran-heavy roster should have a better shot at building trust and cohesion than last year’s group.
Leadership is the next box Colorado needs to check. The Buffs struggled there a year ago, and fall camp will be the first real chance to see who steps forward.
With so many experienced newcomers, the hope is that leadership won’t have to be forced. Some players should be able to guide by example right away, while others may grow into louder voices in the locker room.
Safety Ben Finneseth is one of the names to watch in that regard. He was one of Colorado’s main leaders in 2025 and said at Big 12 Media Days that he wants to take another step after earning another year of eligibility.
“The thing with last year was we just didn’t have the players that wanted to lead and were willing to lead, and it starts with me,” said Finneseth at Big 12 Media Days. “I didn’t feel confident enough in myself. After getting this past year under my belt and gaining some confidence, knowing I can play at this level, it’s significantly helped me.”
Then there’s the coaching side of the equation. Sanders has two new coordinators to integrate, and fall camp will be the first real test of how quickly those changes take hold. Former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion is now running the offense with his ‘Go-Go’ system, while former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve has been promoted from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
Both have drawn strong reviews from players and coaches so far, but Colorado still hasn’t had much time to fully install either system. That makes camp especially important. The Buffs need these pieces to come together now, not later, if they want to feel ready by Week 1.
In Other News...
Purdue Just Landed A Nonconference Spotlight Game With Real Stakes
Colorados nonconference schedule is getting a real measuring-stick game, with the Buffaloes set to face Purdue in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Dec. 19, 2026. For Tad Boyle, its the kind of matchup that should tell his team a lot before Big 12 play begins, especially against a Boilermakers program that brings size, structure and the sort of national profile that can expose where a roster still needs work.
The setting only adds to the challenge, since this figures to be one of the more demanding games on Colorados 2026 slate and a showcase that will draw plenty of attention. It also carries a personal wrinkle for center Eric Jacobsen, who is looking forward to the trip and the chance to be part of a frontcourt battle that gives the night a little extra edge beyond the usual nonconference spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Three Colorado Camp Battles Could Make Or Break The 2026 Season
Fall camp is doing what it always does for a program still sorting itself out: forcing Colorado to turn practice reps into decisions. The Buffaloes are using August to trim a crowded depth chart at a few spots that can swing a season, with the nickelback job, both tackle spots and the defensive front all under the microscope as the staff works toward a clearer picture before the opener at Georgia Tech.
At nickelback, freshman Preston Ashley has emerged as a name to watch while Boo Carter has been moved outside and other transfers keep pressing. Up front, the tackle mix includes Georgia transfer Bo Hughley, Cal transfer Leon Bell and Rutgers transfer Taj White, with Phillip Houston and Larry Johnson III still in the conversation, and the defensive line has its own long list of contenders led by Santana Hopper, Ezra Christensen, Tyler Moore, Samu Taumanupepe and several others. The common thread is simple enough: Colorado does not just need bodies in camp, it needs answers, and it needs them soon. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Just Added Another Four-Star To A Rebuild Fans Desperately Need
Colorados rebuild along the offensive line got another boost with the addition of Dewey Young, a four-star prospect in the 2027 class who joins fellow lineman LiMarcus Jones in giving the Buffaloes some much-needed future heft up front. Young has been viewed as one of the better interior line targets in the cycle, and his commitment fits the broader push under Deion Sanders and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion to stockpile the kind of blockers that can change the look of the offense.
Rivals has Young as the Big 12s top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class, and while he is listed at left tackle in high school, the expectation is that he ends up at guard in college. That matters for Colorado because the staff is not just chasing talent, it is trying to build a clearer identity in the trenches, with Andre Gurode set to help guide the line room. For a program still trying to stabilize its front, landing another highly regarded piece there is the sort of development that can make the long view feel a little less distant. [Read more 🡒]