by Kyle Golik
Anyone who watches our podcast Outside The Gridiron, knows I own a few bad takes, I subscribe to Bruce Arians’ mantra “No risk it, No biscuit.” With that being said, I am getting no biscuit on my Colorado take, I thought they would go winless in their out of conference slate and then win max four games this season. Currently, Colorado sits at 4-1 and are undefeated in the Big XII.
I wasn’t impressed by the Baylor game, and another Rocky Mountain miracle on Shedeur Sanders’ Hail Mary didn’t sway me. How they handled UCF in The Bounce House being nearly a two-touchdown underdog and holding the nation’s top rushing offense, which was averaging 375.7 rushing yards per game before the Colorado showdown, to just 177 yards was impressive.
“I’m so darn proud of where we are,” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said following Colorado’s 48-21 win. “We could be in a whole different place right now, but look it… We’re going into the break. What’s the record?”
“Four-and-one,” the reporter pool responded to Sanders’ query.
“Say it again,” Sanders, in a boastful mood, responded to the pool of reporter, acting like he couldn’t hear their response.
“Four-and-one,” the room said again.
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“I just wanted to hear y’all say it collectively, and y’all fell for it,” Sanders said with a joyful laugh.
“We’re 4-1 going into the break, and I’m so excited, you have no idea,” Sanders said. “It’s gonna be a really good plane ride tonight.”
The plane ride should be good for Sanders but how high can Colorado go? Let’s examine.
Did Colorado Finally Find Their Pass Rush?
If there is one area Colorado must improve on to achieve their newfound higher aspirations, it’s protecting their quarterback. So far this season, Sanders’ protection has been the fourth worst in the country, as Colorado has allowed 18 sacks through five games. Against UCF, Sanders was kept primarily clean, only allowing two sacks. Keeping Sanders intact will be the key if Colorado wants to go bowling, perhaps make a late-season trip to Dallas, or even reach a Tier 1 or 2 bowl. And dare I say—if Colorado were to win the Big XII—perhaps even the College Football Playoff?
Travis Hunter’s Heisman Chances
Regardless of what my thoughts were on the Colorado team this year, I have been consistently high on Travis Hunter, or as Sanders call him, “Mr. Everything.” Against UCF, Hunter had a game that included a Heisman Pose following a third quarter interception of UCF’s K.J. Jefferson. On offense, Hunter finished with nine receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.
“He is who he is. It’s who he is. The guy works his butt off at practice. That’s why nobody trips when he gets Sunday, Monday, Tuesday off. Nobody trips, nobody says nothing. Because if they would, I would say do what he does. You’ll get that off too. It’s just that simple. 100 and some snaps a game and he never tires. He’s just that kind of kid, and I can’t wait to see him continuously play. I mean, I wish to God the game was in a way that we could’ve kept going with his 100-yard mark, even though he don’t care, we care because we should be proactive when it comes to this young men,” Sanders remarked of Hunter’s Heisman pose.
In my opinion, Hunter deserves, at minimum, a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist. No player possesses his versatility or is as crucial to their team as Hunter is to Colorado.
Did Colorado Finally Find Their Pass Rush?
Colorado matched their 2024 season total against UCF in sacks with five and had a season-high 13 tackles for loss. With how elusive Jefferson can be as a dual-threat quarterback, this was a major victory for the Colorado defense.
The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for Colorado, as they will face Kansas State’s efficient dual-threat QB Avery Johnson and Arizona’s Noah Fifita right after the bye. Colorado’s success in those contests will be determined if they can get to the quarterback.
Conclusion
After being so wrong about Colorado in the beginning, I don’t want to be overly optimistic now to compensate. I feel Colorado, at minimum, should return to their first bowl since 2020. That is where the program needs to get to, at least in my mind to validate how Sanders runs his program. The schedule doesn’t get easier, as Kansas State and Arizona follow, but they aren’t unbeatable. If they can somehow force a split, it will raise the stakes for their final three games with Utah, Oklahoma State, and Kansas. Colorado hosts Utah and Oklahoma State. The ceiling, to me, is a potential Tier 1 bowl (outside the College Football Playoff games) by winning eight or nine games.
