As Week 4 of the 2025 college football season approaches, the Colorado Buffaloes are staring at a rough reality. Sitting at 1-2, the program under Deion Sanders isn’t living up to the hype, and fans are beginning to question if this season can still be salvaged. Expectations for a Big 12 title run were high, but those hopes are fading fast.
Before the season, projections painted a bright picture. USA Today Sports predicted an 8-4 record, and even PFSN’s Impact Score gives Colorado a C+ on offense so far, sitting at 78.9 and ranked 55th in the country.
Colorado Struggles Continue in 2025; Is a Change Needed?
But Friday night’s road loss at Houston, 36-20, served as a harsh wake-up call. Quarterback Ryan Staub, recently named the starter, couldn’t spark the offense, and the defense struggled to slow down the Cougars. The result highlighted a team still trying to find its footing.
“This season looks pretty bleak in the short term,” said ESPN’s Paul Finebaum on The Matt Barrie Show. “It was sad to watch that other night. Deion has overcome a lot, and everyone roots for him, but at this point, they may not be a factor the rest of the season.”
Some analysts have pointed fingers at the coaching staff rather than the players. Kevin Borba of Locked on Buffs believes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who carries a $1.6 million, two-year contract, might not be the answer.
“Colorado needs to find a switch and flip it. and I don’t think Pat Shurmer has that switch to be flipped,” Borba said on his show Locked on Buffs. “This is what he’s been. He has been this guy throughout his career. He’s been fired multiple times in the NFL, he’s been fired multiples times in his career. I don’t think he has it.”
The struggles on offense have been clear from the start. Colorado has been shuffling quarterbacks all season, yet the offense still hasn’t clicked. With a tough Big 12 schedule ahead, the team can’t afford more slip-ups if it hopes to reach bowl eligibility. Wins, and convincing ones at that, are critical.
This has been an eye-opener for fans, especially after Shedeur Sanders was drafted and expectations for Deion’s program soared. What looked like a promising start now raises tough questions: Is Shurmur the right fit? Is Sanders’ $1.6 million investment paying off?
The clock is ticking for Colorado, and the next few weeks could determine whether the Buffaloes’ season is remembered for unrealized promise or a hard lesson in rebuilding.
