Colorado's Quarterback Legacy Highlighted by Shedeur Sanders' National Ranking

Shedeur Sanders, son of head coach Deion Sanders, ranks among the top college quarterbacks of the 2000s according to ESPN.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 7:35pm

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The Colorado Buffaloes' offseason has been highlighted by the national recognition of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was ranked the 87th best college quarterback of the 2000s by ESPN. Sanders, who followed his father Deion to Colorado in 2023, has helped turn around the struggling Buffaloes program, throwing for over 7,300 yards and 64 touchdowns in his two seasons as the starting QB. While the Buffaloes are still working to establish a consistent winning legacy under Deion Sanders, Shedeur has already cemented his place as one of the best quarterbacks in school history.

Why it matters

Shedeur Sanders' national ranking by ESPN is a significant accomplishment that shines a spotlight on Colorado's quarterback legacy, which has struggled to produce elite talent at the position over the past 25 years. His success has helped change the culture of the Buffaloes program, which is still working to become a consistent winner under head coach Deion Sanders.

The details

After throwing for 6,963 yards and 70 touchdowns at Jackson State, Shedeur Sanders followed his father Deion to Colorado in 2023. In his two seasons as the Buffaloes' starting quarterback, Sanders has thrown for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns while completing a program-record 72% of his passes. His play, along with the arrival of 5-star recruit Julian Lewis, has helped Colorado improve from 1-11 in 2022 to 4-8 and then 9-4 in the last two seasons.

  • Shedeur Sanders transferred to Colorado in 2023.
  • In the 2024 season, Colorado improved to 4-8 under Shedeur Sanders.
  • In the 2025 season, Colorado went 9-4 with Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback.

The players

Shedeur Sanders

The starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, who has thrown for over 7,300 yards and 64 touchdowns in his two seasons with the program after transferring from Jackson State.

Deion Sanders

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who brought his son Shedeur to Boulder in 2023 as part of his efforts to turn around the struggling program.

Julian Lewis

A 5-star recruit who is expected to be the next starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, following in the footsteps of Shedeur Sanders.

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What they’re saying

“After throwing for 6,963 yards and 70 TDs at Jackson State, Sanders moved with his father to Colorado in 2023; the Buffaloes had gone 1-11 before their arrival but rose to 4-8, then 9-4 in the quarterback's two seasons running the show.”

— Billy Connelly, Writer (ESPN)

What’s next

The Colorado Buffaloes will look to continue their upward trajectory under Shedeur Sanders and the leadership of head coach Deion Sanders, with the goal of becoming a consistent winner in the Pac-12 conference.

The takeaway

Shedeur Sanders' national ranking by ESPN as one of the top college quarterbacks of the 2000s is a testament to his talent and the impact he has had on the Colorado Buffaloes program. While the team is still working to establish a winning legacy, Sanders' success has helped change the culture and set a new standard for quarterback play at the school.