The Colorado Buffaloes have completely changed their approach for 2026. After a disappointing 2025 season, head coach Deion Sanders promised sweeping changes following what he called a “last supper” post-game press conference in November.
The transformation comes after 2025 fell short of expectations. Despite 2024’s success with ten wins, a bowl appearance, a Heisman Trophy winner, and a 4,000-yard passer, the magic had faded.
Sanders faced personal challenges no coach should endure. Beyond negative NFL Draft narratives, he revealed a cancer fight late in summer 2025 that kept him away from crucial recruiting and practice periods.
His absence was noticeable throughout the offseason calendar. Looking back at his comments, dramatic change should’ve been expected.
Sanders called for big changes four months ago
Sanders was brutally honest in his final 2025 post-game press conference. He knew what the problem was.
“We won’t be in this situation again, I promise you that. I’m not happy with nothing. This fanbase, this school, Rick, everybody deserves much better than this. There’s no rut… you’re just not good.”
Sanders identified “mentality” as the root cause of Colorado’s issues. Without calling people out by name, something he rarely does, he believed mindset was the biggest problem.
“Mentality. Personnel. Coaching. Everything. I see everything being different. Even me. You don’t develop mentality, you select mentality. Personnel is mentality. I tell you the truth, but sometimes the truth hurts when I tell it to you. We’ve got to do a better job of coaching.”
New coaches breathe new life
Sanders’ first move was hiring former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator. Marion worked with big-name coaches like Sarkisian, Malzhan, and Narduzzi, but spent most of his career at smaller programs.
Marion created the “go-go” offense. The system is fast-paced, relying on downhill toughness and putting skill players in positions to maximize big plays. Marion describes himself as a “partner in accountability” – something Sanders didn’t mention in November but seemed to be an underlying theme.
Colorado OC Brennan Marion keeping it real: “This gotta work for some of y’all.”
@KingDarius_NS pic.twitter.com/a55hsONicc
— Scott Procter (@ScottProcter_) January 23, 2026
Sanders surprised many by hiring Gainesville, Florida high school coach Josh Niblett. The jump from High School 5A to Power 4 college football raised questions. Once Niblett spoke in Colorado’s meeting room, his comments went viral.
“A better you, makes a better CU.”
TE Coach Josh Niblett
Let’s get to work. pic.twitter.com/u0xlyUUqrc
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) January 23, 2026
The program carries a different tone into 2026. Marion, Niblett and other new coaching staff additions have changed the messaging. Sanders promised changes and delivered. However, many of those changes go against what traditionally works at this level.
Innovative changes or trying to reinvent the wheel
Something had to change after 2025. The question is: are these the right changes?
College football has a working model that’s lasted decades. Recruiting the best players is success. With NIL and the transfer portal, there’s even higher premium on maximizing top talent.
Yet Colorado finds itself in what feels like a college football rebuild. Facing a $20 million deficit, Colorado has shed almost all its high-priced talent.
Jordan Seaton, DJ McKinney, Dre’lon Miller, Omarion Miller, and Brandon Davis-Swain – along with many other potential NIL earners and foundational pieces – left via the transfer portal. They were replaced by incoming transfers, most from lower-level programs or difficult situations at Power 4 schools.
The plan could work. Or it could prove that college football doesn’t reward outside-the-box approaches. Most fans can count on one hand the number of times motivated lower-level players beat teams loaded with five- and four-star talent.
The 2026 Colorado Buffaloes inaugural Spring Ball Draft
Sanders has tried to make the Black and Gold Spring Game more than typical spring games. For the second year running, Sanders and Syracuse coach Fran Brown attempted to schedule a joint practice and spring game. Both times the NCAA denied their request.
This season, Sanders put the Spring Game in his players’ hands. He created two teams, not two sides. This year’s spring game will feature two full teams playing each other. Sanders praised his spring game team captains for their research and preparation for the draft.
The Spring Game Draft is another innovation from Sanders and his staff. It seems like an interesting concept. However, it also raises questions about whether it’s what it appears to be.
If this works, Sanders might’ve made spring games more impactful for players and fans. If it’s just something different and regular season results don’t improve, people might point to this later. Was it a good idea or just misdirection while the program resets amid money problems and poor on-field results?
