College football reporter says stop overestimating Colorado as a Big 12 title contender

As the days go by, the anticipation for the upcoming college football season intensifies. While the stakes vary widely across the Power Four teams, each coach will face a different level of expectation and scrutiny heading into the 2024 season. Deion Sanders, who took over at Colorado last year, is a perfect example of this pressure environment.

The high-profile figure, both in and out of football, has drawn considerable attention to the Buffaloes. Sanders’ tenure in Boulder is under scrutiny, and his future there is a hot topic of discussion this offseason. On3’s Jesse Simonton ranked Sanders “high” in his 2024 Pressure Check rankings, underscoring the critical nature of the upcoming season for Sanders and his team. That ranking reflects the considerable expectations placed on Sanders to transform the Colorado program, especially given his bold moves, such as bringing in a wave of transfers from Jackson State, including his sons and star player Travis Hunter.

The pressure on Sanders is multifaceted. Unlike coaches at big-name teams like Kirby Smart at Georgia, Steve Sarkisian at Texas or Ryan Day at Ohio State, who are constantly under pressure to win championships, Sanders faces the challenge of demonstrating significant improvement at Colorado.

“Coach Prime spent the offseason insisting he plans to stay in Colorado long-term, but that future could be determined by what happens on (and off) the field this fall,” Simonton wrote. “The Buffs’ roster shakeup 2.0 should yield better results, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty with so many moving parts. Has the entire staff been shaken up for better or worse?”

“Will the additions to the offensive line allow quarterback Shedeur Sanders to flourish? Can the defense go from being at least terrible to just plain bad? Sanders (and many of his media allies) have suggested that Colorado is a real contender for the Big 12 title, but simply making a bowl game should be considered a more realistic goal.”

The spotlight is on him to make real progress and build a competitive team capable of advancing in the Big 12. The real test isn’t just whether he can hold down his job for the next five to 10 years. He will if he plans to stay in Boulder. But he will have to prove that his strategic decisions will pay off in the form of on-field success and program stability.

In contrast, other coaches like Billy Napier at Florida or Dave Aranda at Baylor are under pressure to consistently improve and secure their jobs. For them, failing to meet expectations could result in being fired before the end of the season. This underscores the varying degrees of pressure in college football, where each coach’s job security and career trajectory hinge on performance metrics and perceived progress.

As the new season approaches, the spotlight will shine on these coaches. For Sanders, this season is a pivotal moment that could define his legacy at CU and set the course for the program’s future. His ability to navigate this high-pressure environment and produce results will be crucial in shaping his tenure and the fate of Colorado football.