Deion Sanders evaluates where Colorado program stands in rebuild

Deion Sanders is now 17 games into his run as Colorado head coach. The most recent of those 17 games was the Buffaloes’ most complete performance under his watch.

For one, the Buffs held UCF to 177 yards on the ground. The Knights, led by running back RJ Harvey, came into the matchup ranked first nationally with 375.7 rushing yards per game. But Harvey failed to hit the century mark for the first time this season, and UCF suffered a 48-21 home defeat to a 15-point underdog Colorado team that’s now 4-1, including 2-0 in the Big 12.

In other words, Colorado already has double the number of league wins it had last year when it finished 4-8 overall and 1-8 in conference competition. Granted the Buffaloes were in the Pac-12 back then, but their second-year progress is still significant, especially because it was in question after a 28-10 setback at Nebraska in Week 2.

But an overtime win over Baylor and last week’s rout of UCF in Orlando has caught the country’s attention, and in a more serious way than Sanders’ 3-1 start to the 2023 campaign.

“I feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Sanders said postgame last week. “I feel like you guys are seeing the fruit of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, great hires. Great, I don’t want to say acquisitions — that’s almost like we’re in the pros, but when you’re dealing with money and stuff like that with NIL, you pretty much are — but bringing the right guys in with the right attitudes, the right work ethic. I love where we are as a program. I really do.

“Could we be better? Of course. I think everyone can. But I know we’re trending in the right direction.”

Not only did the Colorado defense rise to the occasion against UCF, but so did the Buffaloes’ offensive line. After allowing 16 sacks through the first four games of the season, Colorado conceded just two versus the Knights. What’s more, the Buffaloes rushed for a season-high 128 yards.

Of course, Colorado’s stars continued to do their thing. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 80% of his passes, threw for 290 yards and posted a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Travis Hunter reeled in nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown at wide receiver and recorded his second interception of the season at cornerback.

But individual standout performances are nothing new for Colorado. A complete game, on the other hand, is. That’s why the Buffaloes raised eyebrows last week.

They’re off this week knowing they’re one of three Big 12 teams entering Week 6 with a 2-0 record in conference play this season.

They also know that, as Sanders said, they’re “trending in the right direction.”