Deion Sanders came to Boulder promising to overhaul Colorado’s football culture. Four seasons later, the conversation around the Buffaloes has turned in a direction nobody around the program wanted, especially after a five-game skid that includes the 57-24 loss to Oklahoma State on Oct. 24.
That result pushed Colorado into an uncomfortable comparison. As On3/Rivals Colorado insider Brian Howell pointed out, Sanders’ last 20 games now line up with the final 20 games of Karl Dorrell’s tenure in a way that should stop everyone in their tracks.
The numbers are grim. Dorrell’s Buffaloes went 5-15 across his final 20 games before he was fired after the 2022 season.
During that stretch, Colorado suffered four defeats by 30 points or more, including a 41-10 loss to Air Force on Sept. 10, 2022, and a 49-7 beating by Minnesota the following week. Mike Sanford finished out the final seven games after Dorrell was replaced.
Sanders’ team has now hit the same mark. Colorado has also taken four losses by at least 30 points, with the Oklahoma State debacle becoming the latest.
Earlier this season, the Buffaloes were hammered 41-7 by Northwestern, a 34-point defeat. The 2025 campaign already included a 53-7 loss to Utah on Oct. 25 and a 52-17 loss to Arizona on Nov.
The parallels go beyond the scoreboard. Dorrell’s late Colorado teams were undone by shaky quarterback play, a lack of explosive offensive weapons, and a defense that gave up too much. Sanders’ group is dealing with familiar issues.
Colorado still hasn’t found a steady answer at quarterback after cycling through Julian Lewis and Isaac Wilson. Wilson has started the last three games, but the results haven’t followed.
He is 0-3 as a starter and has struggled with turnovers, throwing seven interceptions against six touchdowns. He also lost a costly fumble early in the third quarter against Oklahoma State, and the game unraveled from there.
Lewis hasn’t provided the consistency Colorado needed either, and he too has had turnover issues while trying to move the offense.
The problems don’t end under center. The run game has never found a reliable rhythm since Colorado opened 2-0, and ball security in the backfield has been an issue as well, including the Northwestern game.
Up front, protection breakdowns have piled up. Colorado has allowed six sacks of Wilson and eight of Lewis, giving the Buffaloes 15 sacks allowed through seven games.
There are depth concerns in other spots, too. Joseph Williams has been a bright spot at receiver and is putting together a fine season, but he has not had much help beyond DeAndre Moore.
In the trenches, Santana Hopper has been carrying a heavy load on a thin interior defensive line. Penalties have only added to the damage.
For Colorado, the outlook isn’t much better in the short term. ESPN FPI gives the Buffaloes just a three percent chance to finish 6-6.
In Other News...
Colorados First Big 12 Win May Hinge On One Kansas State Decision
Kansas States quarterback situation could end up shaping Colorados best chance at a first Big 12 win. Avery Johnson has been the Wildcats engine on both sides of the ball in the sense that he leads the team in passing and rushing, and Colorados defense knows the assignment is as much about containment as anything else. The Buffaloes want to keep him in the pocket and make the game about structure, not improv, because when Johnson is moving freely, Kansas States offense tends to travel with him.
The uncertainty only deepens because Kansas State already has other quarterback injury issues, leaving the Wildcats to sort out how much they can ask of Johnson even if hes available. He missed last weeks game against Arizona State, and his status for this matchup remains unclear, which matters a lot for a Colorado team still looking for that first Big 12 breakthrough. If he does suit up, the questions shift from whether he can go to how aggressive Kansas State will let him be, and that may be the biggest variable of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has The Edge But Colorado Still Brings One Real Threat
Colorado heads into its Oct. 31 matchup with Kansas State carrying a five-game losing streak and the lowest Football Power Index rating in the Big 12, which is hardly the kind of backdrop any team wants this late in the season. The gap in the numbers is real, too, with Kansas State sitting in a much stronger position in the league pecking order and with a clearer path toward bowl eligibility as the schedule winds down.
Still, Colorado does have one area that can keep the game interesting if it can find a way to lean into it. The Wildcats have the more complete profile, but the Buffaloes will be looking for any edge they can create against a Kansas State attack that runs through quarterback Avery Johnson and a backfield featuring Rodney Fields and Joe Jackson. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Just Got A More Affordable Path Into Folsom Field
Colorados next Big 12 home date brings Kansas State to Folsom Field, and the matchup is drawing a range of ticket options for fans trying to get in the building. Official prices start at $88, while several secondary-market listings are showing seats at different points around the stadium depending on location and seller, giving buyers a few ways to approach the game.
For fans looking for more than a standard seat, there are also premium game-day experiences available at higher prices, including add-ons tied to the south end zone and sideline access. As always with live-event tickets, the final checkout total can vary more than the initial listing suggests, so it pays to compare platforms before committing. [Read more 🡒]