Buffaloes Hit Rock Bottom in 2025, but Deion Sanders Vows a Swift Turnaround
The 2025 season came to a close for Colorado with a thud, not a bang. A 24-14 road loss to Kansas State capped off a five-game losing streak and dropped the Buffaloes to a 3-9 finish - a far cry from the 9-4 breakthrough campaign just a year ago. In a year where a step back was anticipated, Colorado didn’t just stumble - it fell flat.
After a 2-2 start that hinted at some promise, the Buffs dropped eight of their final nine games, finishing second-to-last in the Big 12. Only winless Oklahoma State kept them from the conference basement.
There’s no sugarcoating it: this season was a major regression. And Deion Sanders knows it.
Coach Prime’s Promise
In the aftermath of Saturday’s loss, Sanders didn’t mince words. He stood in front of his team, the fan base, and the administration, and made a promise: this won’t happen again.
"We won't be in this situation again," Sanders said. "I promise you that.
I can promise you that because I am not happy with nothing right now. Nothing. ...
This fan base, school, Rick, everybody, deserves much better than this and expected much better than this. I expected much better than this.
And we are going to give them much better than this, starting tomorrow."
That’s not just a soundbite - that’s a mission statement. Sanders is a coach who wears his emotions on his sleeve, and in this case, that sleeve is soaked with the frustration of unmet expectations. But it’s also laced with resolve.
A Year of Adversity - On and Off the Field
Sanders’ second full season in Boulder was filled with challenges, and not just on Saturdays. He battled cancer during the summer, which kept him away from the program during crucial offseason months. That absence, coupled with swirling rumors about his future, created uncertainty - something no program thrives on.
Still, Sanders remained committed. He said it repeatedly. But the results didn’t follow.
On the field, the team struggled to find consistency. Off the field, the Buffs couldn’t gain traction in recruiting.
Transfer Portal swings that could’ve reshaped the roster ended up as misses. And now, with the 2026 recruiting class sitting at 99th nationally and only 10 commitments on the board, the pressure is mounting.
The Portal Will Define the Prime Era
Let’s be clear: the Transfer Portal isn’t just a tool for Sanders - it’s the lifeblood of his roster construction strategy. And after this season, it’s clear the next wave of portal additions will determine more than just next year’s win total. It could determine the trajectory of the entire program - and Sanders’ tenure in Boulder.
Colorado needs impact players. Now. And they need them in bunches.
Sanders has never shied away from bold moves. He flipped nearly the entire roster when he arrived.
He’s leaned into the spotlight. But now, he’s facing a different kind of challenge - rebuilding belief, not just among fans, but inside the locker room.
What Comes Next
The offseason will be critical. Expect staff changes.
Expect roster turnover. And expect Sanders to be aggressive in the portal.
The margin for error is slim, and another 3-9 season could bring the Coach Prime era to an early end.
But if there’s one thing Sanders has proven, it’s that he doesn’t back down from a fight. He’s made it clear he’s staying. Now, he has to show he can turn this around.
The Buffs hit rock bottom in 2025. The question now is whether that’s the end of the fall - or the beginning of a climb back up.