Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the field prior to the game against the Colorado State Rams at Canvas Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/CU Independent)
After Colorado’s dominant 27-point win over the University of Central Florida Knights on Saturday, the team received a sole vote for the AP Top 25 football rankings. Only one vote for a team that has won three times in a row, is now favored to win nearly every game for the rest of the season and has a true Heisman contender in Travis Hunter.
Not to mention, ESPN’s FPI scale gives Colorado the second-best odds to win the Big 12 in their first year back in the competitive conference, possibly finishing over ranked teams like No. 20 Kansas State, No. 18 Utah, No. 17 BYU and No. 13 Iowa State.
For some context, FPI stands for Football Power Index, and it was created by ESPN to more accurately predict the outcomes of NCAA and NFL football games. It accounts for team strengths, the upcoming opponents’ strengths and home-field advantage.
You’d think the team that is predicted to finish in second place in the Big 12 is surely ranked in the Top 25 right? Nope.
Granted, they’ve only played two Big 12 Conference games thus far, but ESPN’s matchup Predictor has Colorado projected to win every conference game for the rest of the season outside of Kansas State. Those expected wins include Utah, Arizona and Kansas, all of which have flirted with the AP rankings this year.
When you look at the team’s lowest point of the season, all eyes go to the 28-10 loss to Nebraska in Week 2. The offensive line fell apart, Shedeur Sanders was making wrong calls and the defense crumbled underneath the pressure of 85,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. But from that loss, not only have the Buffaloes won every game since, but their improvements on all sides of the ball have shown immensely.
The defense, which allowed 54 points in the first six combined quarters of the season, allowed just nine points in the next six. In the miracle game against Baylor, the defense single-handedly kept the Buffaloes in the game, allowing just one touchdown in the second half.
Last week against UCF, the Buffaloes’ defense forced four turnovers on the eruptive Knight’s offense. A pair of fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions ultimately held UCF to 21 points.
After being held to just one offensive touchdown against Nebraska, Sheduer Sanders has led the offense on a heater, putting up 28, 38 and 48 points in their last three games. Sanders has the sixth most passing yards in the nation and 14 touchdowns, but he has personally endorsed another player on the team for the Heisman award.
Travis Hunter has widely been acknowledged as the best player in college football this season. Pat McAfee has said “Travis Hunter is generational” and Richard Sherman went even farther on X.
“If the Heisman is going to the best player in college football, they are going to have a tough time not giving it to (Travis Hunter),” Sherman said.
Not only does Hunter play both wide receiver and cornerback, but he’s also arguably the best receiver and corner in college football. So far this season, he has racked up 561 total yards off nearly 50 receptions and two spectacular interceptions. All only five games in.
When you look at teams that consistently live in the AP Top 25, what do they have in common? An explosive offense? A take-away defense? How about an inspiring coach and a superstar Heisman candidate?
Currently, the 2024 Colorado Buffaloes check all of those boxes and more. They deserve more than one vote for the Top 25.
The Buffaloes will enjoy a bye week before taking on ranked Kansas State, back in Folsom Field. Kansas State has shown they can be beatable, but this will be the biggest test for Colorado thus far in the season. If the Buffs can walk away with a victory, we should be guaranteed an AP Top 25 bid and movement for favorite to win the Big 12.
Contact CU Independent staff writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu.
