Colorado’s preseason climb in USA TODAY’s Sports Power Rankings gives the Buffaloes at least one small win before the games begin, even if the broader picture still looks uneasy.
The Buffaloes moved up in the latest ranking, but they remain the lowest-rated Big 12 team and sit six spots behind Iowa. That placement reflects the uncertainty hanging over a program coming off a 3-9 season, yet it also marks a step forward for a team trying to get back to where it was in 2024.
There are real reasons Colorado could be better in 2026, starting with Julian Lewis. The quarterback is expected to keep growing after a freshman season in which he completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns. Now he gets a chance to take command of the offense with new coordinator Brennan Marion running the show.
Marion’s arrival matters, but so does the talent Colorado added around Lewis. Deion Sanders used the transfer portal to bring in wide receivers Danny Scudero, DeAndre Moore Jr., and Kam Perry, giving the offense a much different look. Scudero stands out as an especially important addition after putting up 1,297 receiving yards at San José State last season.
Moore brings his own production from Texas, where he finished with 77 catches for 988 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Perry arrives after a strong season at Miami University, where he totaled 43 receptions for 976 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Colorado also worked to strengthen both lines. The Buffaloes added several offensive linemen with starting experience, while the defensive front got help from former Tulane lineman Santana Hopper and former North Dakota State lineman Toby Anene.
That influx of experience gives Colorado a path to beat expectations if the pieces come together the right way. But the schedule won’t offer much room to ease in. The Buffaloes open on the road against Georgia Tech, then go to Northwestern before a run of conference games against Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Arizona State, Houston and Cincinnati.
So the formula is pretty clear: Lewis has to develop quickly, the offensive line has to build chemistry, and the defense has to become much more dependable. The national view of Colorado is not going to change because of one preseason ranking bump. It changes when the wins start piling up.
USA TODAY’s ranking is only a projection, but it does underline the challenge in front of Coach Prime in his fourth year. Colorado has already shown it can blow past expectations, and moving up in the preseason rankings is a decent first signal that the conversation around the Buffaloes could start shifting before the season even kicks off.
In Other News...
Colorado Is Betting Big On A Louder Folsom Field Edge
Colorado is leaning further into the idea that Folsom Field should feel like more than just a stadium on fall Saturdays. The University of Colorado Athletics announced a new batch of in-game fan experiences, including live music from local bands, a new in-game host in Gianna Girardi and upgraded video board displays, all aimed at making the home atmosphere louder and more layered for Buffaloes fans.
The changes also reach beyond the seating bowl, with a pregame street party called Ralphies Road set to bring food trucks, a giant TV, a DJ and interactive games into the mix. Colorado opens its 2026 season at Georgia Tech before coming back to Boulder, where the program will find out how much these additions can help turn Folsom Field into the kind of edge the Buffaloes want every week. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Suddenly Faces Two Painful Roster Questions After Eligibility Blow
Colorados roster picture took an unexpected hit when transfer defensive lineman Ezra Christensen was denied a preliminary injunction that would have cleared him for the 2026 season, effectively ending his college football career. The ruling leaves another hole in a unit that Colorado has had to keep adjusting, and it adds a personal layer too, with former teammate Tyler Martinez publicly showing support and reacting to the news alongside him.
Deion Sanders also addressed the situation, but the broader concern now stretches beyond one player and into the teams overall depth chart planning. With Christensen out of the equation, Colorado has to keep sorting through other roster issues as well, including potential competition among its kickers, a reminder that even one legal setback can ripple through several parts of a team at once. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Restored Receiver Group Faces One Big Opener Concern
Kam Perry and Danny Scudero are back on the field for Colorado, working in a non-contact capacity as the Buffaloes continue to prepare for the 2026 season opener. Their return is a welcome development for a receiver room that has already dealt with injuries to key pieces, and it gives Deion Sanders offense a chance to regain some much-needed depth before the games start counting.
The timing also matters because Colorado is turning to new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, whose system should benefit from having more options available on the perimeter. Sanders had already said both receivers would be back in time for the opener, and while their presence at practice is encouraging, the bigger question now is how quickly they can be fully integrated once the full-speed work begins. [Read more 🡒]