An ESPN analyst isn't very optimistic about Deion Sanders' new season with the Colorado Buffaloes

D eion Sanders ' fourth season at Colorado is approaching with plenty of questions surrounding the Buffaloes , and ESPN analyst Rece Davis is not expecting the program to make a dramatic return to prominence.

Colorado's trajectory under Sanders has been difficult to predict. The Buffaloes went 1-11 before his arrival, improved to 4-8 during his first season in 2023 and then produced a 9-4 record in 2024. That breakthrough campaign put Colorado firmly back in the national conversation.

The momentum disappeared in 2025, however, when the Buffaloes dropped to 3-9 and struggled badly in Big 12 play, finishing 1-8 in conference games. Davis now believes another difficult campaign could be ahead.

“I don’t expect them to go to a bowl game this year,” Rece Davis said on his August 25 ESPN podcast.

“I don’t think that this has been some type of massive failure as an experiment or as a chance at Deion Sanders kind of using his celebrity to build awareness and build attraction to his program. …He’s invested in trying to impact his players the best way he possibly can, both on and off the field.”

That distinction is important. Davis is not arguing that Sanders ' tenure has been a failure. Instead, he believes Colorado has yet to demonstrate that the program can consistently compete without the extraordinary talent that helped fuel its 2024 resurgence.

Colorado must prove it can win without Hunter and Shedeur

The biggest challenge facing Sanders is replacing the production and influence of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders .

Hunter became one of the most versatile players in college football during his Colorado career, starring as both a wide receiver and cornerback before becoming the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Shedeur Sanders , meanwhile, was the centerpiece of the Buffaloes' offense and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the same draft.

Their departures left Colorado without two players who were responsible for a huge portion of the team's identity.

“I mean, they had one really good year with Shedeur and T ravis Hunter ,” Davis said. “But at some point, you’ve got to continue the production. And I think they’ll be competitive. I’ll be surprised if they get to a bowl game this year. I think that would constitute a really, really good season for them.”

There are reasons for Colorado supporters to remain hopeful. Sanders has worked to rebuild the roster through the transfer portal, bringing in players such as former Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. , former Tennessee safety Boo Carter and Danny Scudero , who led the FBS in receiving yards in 2025.

Scudero's health is an important storyline after he dealt with an injury during preseason camp.

Sanders has also reshaped his coaching staff. Brennan Marion took over as offensive coordinator in December, giving Colorado another new voice as it attempts to develop an offense capable of functioning without Shedeur.

The problem is that collecting talent and turning it into a cohesive team are two very different challenges.

Colorado's schedule provides little margin for error. The Buffaloes open the season on September 3 against Georgia Tech before facing Weber State and then entering Big 12 competition.

The conference schedule includes difficult assignments against teams such as Arizona State, Texas Tech and Houston.

The opener against Georgia Tech could be particularly revealing. The Yellow Jackets defeated Colorado 27-20 in Boulder last season, giving the Buffaloes an immediate opportunity to demonstrate that the program has moved forward.

Ultimately, Davis ' prediction places considerable pressure on Sanders. A bowl appearance would require Colorado to reach at least six wins, and the ESPN analyst believes getting there would represent a genuinely strong season.

For Sanders, the task is therefore bigger than simply replacing two stars. He must show that the culture and structure he built in Boulder can produce sustained success even after the most recognizable players from his early Colorado era have moved on.