Deion Sanders isn’t brushing off Northwestern, and he isn’t pretending Saturday will be simple either.
Colorado heads to Evanston for a 5:30 p.m. MT kickoff against the Wildcats in its second road game of the season against a Power Four opponent outside the Big 12. The Buffaloes already handled Georgia Tech from the ACC in Week 1, and now they get another early test - this time from a Big Ten team with extra time to get ready.
Sanders made it clear Tuesday that he sees the challenge.
"Daunting task. I feel like may be inclement weather in Northwestern, but we up for the challenge.
Good team, you know, hurry up offense and just no huddle and just doing his thing like Chip Kelly's been known to do. It presents some of dilemmas.
We got to prepare and and practice for that thoroughly Big Ten team. You know they're going to be physical.
I'm pretty sure they're not gonna make many mistakes. They had two weeks to prepare for us.
I like it. I like this task for us.
I really do," said Sanders.
Weather could be part of the problem. AccuWeather says Evanston has been dealing with a rainy week, and Saturday’s forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Colorado already went through a lightning delay in its opener against Georgia Tech, so another weather interruption would not be unfamiliar territory for the Buffaloes.
Northwestern also comes in with an edge in preparation. The Wildcats had a Week 2 bye, while Colorado is coming off its win over Weber State. That means Northwestern has had an extra week to sort out plans for a Buffaloes team that no longer has the luxury of surprising anybody after Julian Lewis’ breakout performance.
The Wildcats’ offensive makeover adds another wrinkle. In the offseason, Northwestern coach David Braun brought in Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, and Sanders singled out that style as something Colorado has to be ready for.
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles went 14 of 24 for one touchdown in the team’s first win of the season, and running back Joseph Himon II is another player Colorado has to account for.
The betting line suggests a close one. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Northwestern is favored by 3.5 points, a number that reflects the Wildcats’ home-field advantage and the expectation that these teams are fairly even.
Sanders said he knows the odds, but he’s not using them as a talking point.
"I don't wanna comment on underdogs and none of that because I'm not a betting man, and I don't think the kids give a darn about that and I'm not gonna use that to propel them. If I got to use that to propel them and get them encouraged to go at it, something's wrong with us," Sanders said.
Colorado enters at 2-0, and Sanders has already shown he’s willing to push even after a big win. After the Buffaloes beat Weber State 52-21, he said in the locker room that he wasn’t satisfied with the performance and wanted more from his team.
Brennan Marion on offense and Chris Marve on defense have helped put players in position to make plays, but Sanders remains the driving force behind the culture change in Boulder.
In Other News...
Hope Leyba Is Giving Colorado Another Reason To Believe
Hope Leyba has given Colorado plenty to smile about early in the season, and her latest outing only sharpened the sense that the Buffaloes have another proven finisher leading the way. The senior forward was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after delivering a hat trick in Colorados 6-0 win over Denver, a performance that reminded everyone how quickly she can change a match when she finds space in front of goal.
It was her fourth career Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor and her first this season, another sign that Leyba remains a central figure for Colorados attack. She also moved to 83 career points, which puts her fifth on the programs all-time scoring list, and gives the Buffaloes even more reason to keep watching how high her final chapter can climb. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Next Two Road Tests Will Define This Teams Ceiling
Colorados season has already shown how quickly the mood around this program can change. After the highs of the early stretch in 2023, the Buffaloes watched a losing skid drain away their bowl hopes, a reminder that fast starts only matter if they can survive the middle of the schedule. Now the conversation has shifted to 2026, where a solid opening has created a little momentum and a little expectation in equal measure.
The next two road games will say plenty about whether this group is just off to a decent start or capable of something bigger. Northwestern and Baylor offer very different kinds of tests, and handling both would go a long way toward keeping Colorado on a path that could actually lead to bowl eligibility and a more meaningful season. For a team trying to prove the early results are real, this stretch feels like the hinge point. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Still Holding Back On Julian Lewis For Now
Julian Lewis breakout against Weber State gave Colorado a fresh look at what the future could hold at quarterback, but Deion Sanders is not in any hurry to change the plan. The Buffaloes coach pointed to Lewis limited experience at this level and framed the young quarterbacks growth as a process, not a sprint, even as his recent play has given the offense a new jolt of energy.
Lewis is already starting to show the kind of leadership that matters beyond the box score, too, whether it is taking the offensive line out to eat or leaning into the daily work that comes with being the face of the position. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion has praised Lewis arm strength, while also stressing that the next step is sharpening the habits and details that separate a talented quarterback from a fully trusted one. [Read more 🡒]