Following a 9-4 campaign in 2024 and the program’s best season since 2016, the Colorado Buffaloes have gotten off to a rough start in 2025. Through five games, the Buffaloes sit at 2-3 and don’t look like they’ll come close to matching last year’s success.
Concerns are rising in Boulder, and one Colorado star pointed to leadership issues, while an analyst believes those concerns stem from head coach Deion Sanders’ misuse of the transfer portal.
Is Colorado’s Slow Start Tied to Leadership and Deion Sanders’ Transfer Portal Decisions?
Colorado has not lived up to expectations in 2025 following a strong 2024 season. Through five games, they have three losses, all coming against their only three Power Four opponents.
Both sides of the ball have struggled this season. The offense has been mediocre, ranking 41st in the country according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, while the defense has looked rough, ranking 83rd in PFSN’s CFB DEFi metric.
With the slow start, concerns are rising about Sanders’ squad, and offensive lineman Xavier Hill reportedly pointed to leadership as the main issue for the Buffaloes right now.
“The leadership on this team can definitely use some work,” Hill said. “We lead by example in our room.”
It’s not something a program wants to hear from one of its stars, but unfortunately, Hill may be right. Kevin Borba, host of the “Locked on Buffs” podcast, pointed to another issue: a lack of identity within the program.
“I think there’s an identity sort of lacking within his program,” Borba said. “I think the identity sort of should be established before the year, and should sort of be synonymous with the program. Like you should have an identity that sort of goes with everything that you’re planning to do. I don’t think Colorado has that.”
So why are the Buffaloes struggling in the leadership and identity department? Borba believes it’s due to Sanders’ transfer portal woes.
Borba noted that Colorado missed on talent in the Portal this offseason and brought in a bunch of guys who will only be with the program for 2025. He explained that when players only play to build their personal brand, you get a team without culture or leadership.
“It’s all about the structure, right?” Borba said. “And I think Colorado, unfortunately, may have missed on their transfer portal class.” He later added, “When the guys are coming to this program with the mindset of like ‘I’m here for the platform and the opportunity to progress my career,’ I think you get a team that lacks culture and leadership.”
Borba makes a point. Sanders primarily built the program through the transfer portal during his tenure with Colorado. While it’s an excellent resource for acquiring talent, Colorado has become a place where players come to build brands and get clicks.
While that approach may work in some ways, it’s now creating issues for Sanders. His team is filled with players who care more about the name on their jerseys than the team itself, contributing to the overall lack of leadership and identity.
Things must change quickly in Boulder. The Buffaloes face a challenging schedule ahead and will look to even their record at 3-3 on Saturday, October 4, when they take on the TCU Horned Frogs.
