Will Colorado make a bowl game in 2024?
Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are coming off a 4-8 campaign in 2024 and will be one of four new members in the Big 12 next season.
The question is simple: Will Colorado go bowling in their first year back in the conference?
Vegas has the win total set at 4.5, and the schedule doesn't exactly instill a ton of confidence...
- North Dakota State (Aug. 31)
- @ Nebraska (Sep. 7)
- @ Colorado State (Sep. 14)
- @ Arizona (Date TBA)
- Utah (Date TBA)
- Baylor (Date TBA)
- Oklahoma State (Date TBA)
- Kansas State (Date TBA)
- Cincinnati (Date TBA)
- @ Kansas (Date TBA)
- @ Texas Tech (Date TBA)
- @ UCF (Date TBA)
Real chance they start 1-2
I wrote about this on my piece today and I agree with you guys on the UNDER being very likely! https://www.heartlandcollegesports.com/2024/01/24/what-if-wednesday-big-12-final-four-teams-media-bias-vs-big-12-and-colorados-2024-expectations/
No chance of a Bowl for Colorado...
The Buffs have games against probably the 5 best teams in the league which I don't see them winning a game. They'll be lucky to go 2-2 in the other 4 conference games. They'll be lucky to win 2 nonconference games.  I really don't see them improving on last year's record.
And then what does CU do? I mean at that point does the hype of Deion wear off, and if so, what happens from there? He will still bring attention, but at what cost? And I could see him getting sour if his team keeps stinking it up. It could end really ugly.
Agree, Prime Time goes to no time by end of season....
He's a flavor of the day as a Coach. That's all...
And I hate that I think we are all on the same page. I genuinely want CU to be good. Deion having success there will be good for the Big 12. But eventually if he is just a 4-8 coach, the juice will wear off fast.
They could take a year 2 bump and become noticeably better, but that schedule may not let them have anything to show for it, especially in conference. The opening stretch will do a lot to determine their season (hot take right there, I know). NDSU is a nightmare match-up because they are absolutely a good enough team to win. Stack that with an away rivalry where Nebraska is looking for payback. It's incredibly hard. Then even a trip to Colorado State is tough, where you have another rival wanting to knock you off in a revenge game at home. CU is going to need momentum badly. If they can beat NDSU and Nebraska, I think it opens up the chance they make a bowl and rattle off some wins. But if they hobble through non-conference without consecutive wins, it could get ugly in Big12 play quickly, especially when they hit a stretch of consecutive ranked teams (I'd say that's highly likely based on their opponents). I know we're all kind of waiting to see if a lot of the talent they bring in meshes and they become a strong team, which may or may not happen (it didn't last year). But, that talent is there and I wouldn't be shocked if they have 2 or 3 wins late in the season and knock a team or two out of conference title contention.
Quote from TonyCFL on January 29, 2024, 12:59 pmThey could take a year 2 bump and become noticeably better, but that schedule may not let them have anything to show for it, especially in conference. The opening stretch will do a lot to determine their season (hot take right there, I know). NDSU is a nightmare match-up because they are absolutely a good enough team to win. Stack that with an away rivalry where Nebraska is looking for payback. It's incredibly hard. Then even a trip to Colorado State is tough, where you have another rival wanting to knock you off in a revenge game at home. CU is going to need momentum badly. If they can beat NDSU and Nebraska, I think it opens up the chance they make a bowl and rattle off some wins. But if they hobble through non-conference without consecutive wins, it could get ugly in Big12 play quickly, especially when they hit a stretch of consecutive ranked teams (I'd say that's highly likely based on their opponents). I know we're all kind of waiting to see if a lot of the talent they bring in meshes and they become a strong team, which may or may not happen (it didn't last year). But, that talent is there and I wouldn't be shocked if they have 2 or 3 wins late in the season and knock a team or two out of conference title contention.
Good take... so then what? No way Deion is in trouble, but what's the end game if it's another 4-8 season?
He could very well be in trouble, though Colorado doesn't strike me as a place that would cycle through coaches just because. They've got a lot sunk into Coach Prime, and I'm not even referring to his salary. The way they let him cull the roster was a big risk for the institution, and it was definitely a hit to their reputation. Winning is the only thing that will fix it, and they'll be desperate for it all to work out. So I'd bet he gets three years no matter the record, and if there is too little improvement everybody gets fired from the AD down.
We'll be able to speculate more when the schedule drops tomorrow morning.
