Colorado Buffaloes
· 2026-07-08
Colorado Buffaloes football gets a fresh start this fall as head coach Deion Sanders, now cancer‑free, declares he’s back, healthy and ready to lead the program to a better record after a disappointing 3‑9 finish in 2025. Sanders arrived at Big 12 media day on July 7, 2026, visibly energized and eager to reshape the Buffs’ destiny.
During the spring and summer of 2025, Sanders was largely absent, battling bladder cancer while keeping his condition private. The lack of his presence coincided with a five‑game losing streak that ended the season, leaving the team without its usual leadership. Senior safety Ben Finneseth noted that the coach’s limited involvement that year hurt morale and on‑field focus.
Sanders says he’s been in the locker room every day this summer, reviewing film on every player and making recruiting decisions himself. He praised the new staff, highlighting offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and defensive coordinator Chris Marve as the best coaches he’s ever worked with. The roster now blends returning starters—quarterback JuJu Lewis, tight end Zach Atkins, receiver Joseph Williams, running back Micah Welch, and safety Finneseth—with a wave of transfers such as receivers Danny Scudero and DeAndre Moore, defensive lineman Santana Hopper, linebacker Gideon Lampron, and defensive backs Cree Thomas, Boo Carter and Naeten Mitchell.
No Buffs made the preseason All‑Big 12 team, and national analysts rank Colorado near the bottom of the 16‑team conference. Sanders brushes off the chatter, insisting that the opinions of outsiders won’t dictate the team’s identity. He emphasizes that the players, coaches and staff understand who they are and what they must achieve.
The Buffs open their 2026 schedule against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on September 4, 2026. That matchup will be the first real test of Sanders’ renewed energy and the revamped roster’s chemistry. If the team can translate the coach’s optimism into on‑field execution, the season could finally break the cycle of losing records that has haunted Colorado since the 2025 campaign.
Sanders says the program is “on it” and that every detail—from recruiting to daily practice—is being scrutinized. He believes the combination of a committed staff, a mix of experienced Buffs and impact transfers, and his own restored health will drive the Buffaloes toward a competitive Big 12 finish. The coach’s confidence is palpable, and the Buffs’ fans are watching closely, hoping the promised turnaround becomes reality.