Bruce Feldman believes Colorado can win nine games in 2024, if roster improves
No matter what Deion Sanders says, Colorado earning four wins should be considered a success. Just over 12 months ago, the Buffaloes were one of the worst Power Five teams in the country and had no direction. Sanders was able to come in, bring energy to the program, and earn some marquee wins early in the season.
Unfortunately, Prime is not going to accept 4-8 and will want to take another step forward in 2024. He expects Colorado to make the College Football Playoff but Bruce Feldman of The Athletic is not quite there yet. Transitioning into the Big 12 next season, Feldman thinks the Buffs can earn nine wins for the second time in over two decades.
“You go one win to four wins,” Feldman said. “It’s positive. I think they can go to nine wins next year. But it’s hard.”
Why is it going to be hard for Colorado to double (and one) their win total next season? Because of how big of a disaster the offensive line was. There is no hiding when you cannot win in the trenches, especially over the course of a 12-game season.
Now, Sanders has made a few splashes over the past week on the offensive line. Five-Star Plus+ OT Jordan Seaton recently committed and Colorado has to get across the finish line there. Six other offensive linemen have committed via the NCAA transfer portal, all previously being contributors at Power Five schools.
Getting bodies on campus is one thing. Making sure you can get a starting five meshed together and firing on all cylinders is another thing. Colorado is likely still going to have problems going from horrendous to elite.
“They need to hit that really hard and they need to develop it,” Feldman said. “They were so bad up front. They were so bad in the trenches… It’s hard to go from awful on the offensive line to great. At some point, you have to get to mediocre.”
Phil Loadholt will be the one tasked with fixing the offensive line, recently hired by Colorado after being an offensive analyst the past two seasons at Oklahoma. If they can even jump up to the mediocre range Feldman mentioned, Shedeur Sanders and the skill talent around him will vastly improve.
From there, everything becomes about the schedule. A difficult nonconference of North Dakota State, Nebraska, and Colorado State looms. Luckily, there are five Big 12 games at home and just four on the road. A cross-country flight to UCF will be the longest journey.
Nine wins would be quite the achievement for Sanders and the correct steps are already being taken.