After a disappointing season that included a 3-9 record, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders felt that he needed a change. Within the fast-paced world of NIL, a team can change its fortunes quickly.
With the regular season less than five months away, Sanders made bold moves to improve the team. The new offensive coordinator discusses the working relationship with the head coach.
Colorado OC Brennan Marion Praises Deion Sanders for Autonomy
Behind Sanders’ big personality is a coach who seems to comprehend what happens behind the scenes that leads to winning. He hired Brennan Marion to run the Colorado offense. Marion opened up about how the head coach grants him space to work.
Colorado OC Brennan Marion on Coach Prime: “He’s trusted me, passed the ball and let me run some things.”
“It’s hard to gain that trust … for Coach to trust me with practice planning and give me some autonomy, it’s been big for me.”
— Scott Procter (@ScottProcter_) April 9, 2026
“Colorado OC Brennan Marion on Coach Prime: ‘He’s trusted me, passed the ball and let me run some things.'”
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“It’s hard to gain that trust … for Coach to trust me with practice planning and give me some autonomy, it’s been big for me.”
Marion left a head coaching job at FCS Sacramento State to take a position in Boulder. The Hornets finished 7-5 in Marion’s only season at the helm. Yet, installing a new offense at Colorado could be more of a challenge.
The Buffaloes landed in the No. 80 slot in the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Rankings, scoring 20.9 points per game. Moreover, the team dropped its last five games of the season, scoring just 15.4 points during that stretch.
Marion, with Sanders’ permission, runs the practices, which he will need to install his offense, the “Go-Go.” The offense, by nature, is a rushing attack with a pass option that relies heavily on motion, misdirection, and unbalanced formations.
Additionally, the offense plays with an accelerated pace to keep defenses guessing. At Sacramento State, Marion’s scheme scored 33.8 points per game. On top of that, the Hornets scored 39 rushing touchdowns.
Before his stint in the Big Sky, Marion worked as UNLV’s offensive coordinator with the same scheme. The Rebels scored 54 total touchdowns in 2024 on offense. As a result, Marion’s offense appears to work in FBS.
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Marion will tailor the scheme to fit presumed starter and rising sophomore Julian Lewis. The Big 12 earned a reputation for prolific offenses, and teams that want to compete must keep up. Over a three-game span, Colorado will face Texas Tech, Utah, and Oklahoma State.
By instilling faith in Marion, Sanders hopes Colorado can replicate its 2024 season that culminated in nine wins, a bowl appearance, and a Heisman Trophy winner. The Buffaloes begin the season in Atlanta on September 3, facing Georgia Tech.
