Three Areas Colorado Buffaloes Can't Afford to Step Back

New coach Deion Sanders has his work cut out to turn around the Buffs after a 3-win season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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For the new-look Colorado Buffaloes, bouncing back from last year's three-win campaign will require plenty to go right and some things to simply not go wrong. Coach Deion Sanders admitted late last season that Colorado can build on certain areas, including quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis' emergence, but preventing weak spots from regressing further is just as important.

Why it matters

After a dismal 2025 season, the Colorado Buffaloes are looking to rebound under new head coach Deion Sanders. Maintaining progress in key areas like rushing attack, injury prevention, and team leadership will be crucial to the Buffs' turnaround efforts.

The details

Sanders said Colorado must focus on stabilizing its rushing attack, avoiding the rash of injuries that plagued the team last season, and developing stronger leadership among the players. The Buffs are expected to lean on returning running backs DeKalon Taylor and Micah Welch, as well as several incoming transfer players, to bolster the ground game. Defensively, Colorado must find ways to keep key players healthy after injuries decimated the roster in 2025. And the coaching staff will be looking for vocal leaders to emerge and set the tone for the program's culture shift.

  • In October 2025, Deion Sanders spoke about the need for players to step up as leaders.
  • Colorado's final game of the 2025 season was in December.

The players

Deion Sanders

The new head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, tasked with turning around the program after a 3-win season in 2025.

Julian "JuJu" Lewis

The emerging starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, who Sanders sees as a building block for the team.

DeKalon Taylor

A returning running back for the Colorado Buffaloes who will be counted on to stabilize the team's rushing attack.

Micah Welch

Another returning running back for the Colorado Buffaloes who will compete for carries in the backfield.

Ben Finneseth

A safety for the Colorado Buffaloes who has emerged as a vocal leader on the team.

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What they’re saying

“If anyone's built to reconcile and to get this back on course, it's me. And I will do it if it's the last thing I do on Earth. Trust me when I tell you, this was the Last Supper.”

— Deion Sanders, Head Coach (SI.com)

“When you step up and you step out and want to claim that leadership position, that puts a target on you because you gotta ball. Because one thing about these youngsters these days, they're gonna call you out — in front of the coach, not in front of the coaches, through privacy and the cafeteria, the locker room, whatever. A lot of guys these days are reluctant to step into that role because they're gonna be held accountable. And I like that.”

— Deion Sanders, Head Coach (SI.com)

What’s next

The Colorado coaching staff will continue to evaluate the roster and make adjustments to address the key areas of focus - the rushing attack, injury prevention, and team leadership - as they prepare for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

After a dismal 2025 campaign, the Colorado Buffaloes face a critical offseason under new head coach Deion Sanders. Shoring up the running game, keeping players healthy, and developing vocal leaders will be essential to the program's turnaround efforts as they look to bounce back in 2026.