A week after ranking 16th in the upcoming highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25, the Colorado football program debuted as the 11th-ranked team in the media’s Big 12 preseason poll. After a solid start to the 2023 season, their first under head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes dropped six straight games to finish the year, concluding with a 4-8 record, the program’s seventh straight losing season. However, EA Sports, the publisher behind the newest college football game, has high hopes for Colorado football in 2024, with a bevy of new transfers ready to play alongside star quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Nevertheless, the Big 12 media is less bullish on the Buffs, with Tuesday’s preseason poll release placing the former Pac-12 team near the bottom of the league. The 2024 Big 12 Media Preseason Poll released on Tuesday featured the conference’s four newest programs, the Utah Utes, Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, and the Colorado Buffaloes, all formerly of the Pac-12. Utah earned the highest mark, ranking atop the conference. However, Arizona State and Colorado rank well towards the bottom.
Colorado Football: Placed in the Bottom Half of 2024 Big 12 Media Preseason Poll
Jan 13, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sanders cheers in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The expectation in Boulder is that the Colorado football program will continue to improve under head coach Deion Sanders in 2024. However, the Big 12 media remains unconvinced that the Buffaloes can make a massive jump in year two under Sanders. With Colorado placing 11th in the conference’s preseason poll, only one longtime Big 12 member, the Baylor Bears, finished behind them in the initial rankings. Colorado has won just five games in the past two seasons, likely playing a significant role in the team’s placement behind TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, and West Virginia, among others. Despite this, the Buffaloes are determined to improve their ranking with Heisman Trophy hopeful Shedeur Sanders still under center.
The people have spoken… allow us to present the 2024 #Big12FB Media Preseason Poll 📊 pic.twitter.com/9JQw1J21Fv
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) July 2, 2024
Colorado is not the only Pac-12 team to receive a poor grade in the league’s preseason poll constructed by the media. The Arizona State Sun Devils, one of only two Pac-12 teams to post a worse record than Colorado last year, placed dead last in the preseason poll. The league’s media did show love for the two other former Pac-12 teams turned Big-12 members, with Arizona and Utah placing in the top five.
Colorado: Looking For First Winning Season Since 2016
UCLA quarterback Collin Schlee, center, scores a touchdown as Colorado defensive lineman Chazz Wallace, left, tackles him and cornerback Travis Hunter, right, watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct 28, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Colorado football program will look to improve on a poor 4-8 record last season, their seventh straight losing season. Last season, head coach Deion Sanders went to unprecedented new lengths via the transfer portal, with nearly every starter coming from elsewhere in 2023. Colorado again used the transfer portal to their advantage this offseason, with Ourlads projecting 12 new starters, 11 via the portal, next fall.
Additionally, the dynamic duo of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter will return for Colorado this upcoming season. Despite being one of the most under-duress passers last season, Sanders tallied 3,230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and three picks last season. Meanwhile, Hunter posted a 57-tackle, three-interception campaign during his first season with Colorado last year.
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Publish date : 2024-07-02 15:05:50
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