Head Coach Deion Sanders wasn’t a happy man following the Colorado Buffaloes 24-14 loss to Kansas State on the final Saturday of the college football season. The loss dropped the Buffs final record to 3-9 with no bowl game to participate in. A far cry from Sanders’ preseason expectations.
After completing his third season at CU, Sanders was adamant that next year would be different, going so far as to call 2025 “the last supper” on his way out the door. Everyone who follows the Colorado program is expecting significant changes on the roster and with the CU coaching staff.
Could Another Roster Overhaul Happen in Boulder?
As far as the roster is concerned, the focus will be first on retaining star players like tackle Jordan Seaton and freshman QB Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis. After that, there will be some attrition – the Buffs graduated more than 30 seniors – with some younger players opting out, and some being told they weren’t in CU’s plans any longer.
Sanders is counting on many more coveted players leaving other schools and choosing CU in the transfer portal.
The first of two national high school signing days happens this week, but Sanders and his staff haven’t put much emphasis on it, numbers-wise. And in recent weeks, they’ve suffered some impactful de-commitments. A second signing day in February – after the portal is closed – could give fans a better idea about this year’s high school recruiting class.
And time will tell how competitive Colorado can afford to be financially when the portal opens next month, but that’s clearly where Sanders wants to focus his recruiting energy.
When he first arrived, the portal was Colorado’s best friend. Last year, not so much.
Many Colorado supporters have pointed at senior transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter as the main culprit in the poor season. Highly touted coming out of the transfer portal, Salter was spotty all season, eventually giving up the starting job to freshman Lewis. Salter returned to the starting lineup for his and the team’s final game, passing for 172 yards with an interception, but keeping the Buffs in the game with several well-timed scrambles and designed QB runs. In the end, Salter wasn’t close to being a replacement for the departed Shedeur Sanders, and the Buffs offense suffered for it.
Someone else who suffered for it was Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur, who was stripped of play calling duties with four games left in the season. The veteran coach with more than three decades of NFL experience isn’t expected back next season, although nothing official has been announced. The only coaching change that’s been publicized to this point is the departure of running backs coach Marshall Faulk, who takes over at the head coach at HBCU program Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana near his hometown of New Orleans.
It’s unclear at this point which coaching jobs are safe, but significant changes are in the forecast. Sanders has prioritized NFL playing experience over college coaching (and recruiting) experience when construction and re-constructing his coaching staff after previous departures.
What’s the Status of Byron Leftwich with the Colorado Program?
One name that has been mysteriously missing since last August is former NFL QB Byron Leftwich, who had joined the program as designated quarterback coach before mysteriously departing Boulder just before the season opener. No reason other than “family matters” has ever been given for his season-long absence.
Assuming things work out personally for the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator, he very well could be back in Boulder for the 2026 season, perhaps even as the new OC. Sanders offered heavy praise for Leftwich when he met with the media prior to last season.
The fate of the other CU coaches could be announced soon.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Seismic Changes Predicted at Colorado After 3-9 Season appeared first on Heavy Sports.