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Desmond Howard reveals how close Colorado is to being a championship contender

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•11/09/24•

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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Desmond Howard thinks Colorado is more than College Football Playoff worthy. In fact, the ESPN analyst thinks the Buffaloes are closer to “championship contender” than longshot.

For Colorado to even make the playoff, they arguably have to win the Big 12, since the Buffs already have two losses. Sitting at 6-2, Colorado has just one loss in conference to Kansas State and would need to finish 10-2 to have a shot.

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But Howard is a believer in Colorado, Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

“What Coach Prime is doing down there at Boulder, you know, I like Shedeur, he’s QB1 for me. Travis Hunter,” Howard said watching College GameDay’s playoff meter inch closer to championship contender during a segment. “If they get past Texas Tech in Lubbock today, they’ll be favorites in all of their games … That’s where they might be weak, in the trenches. Once you get to the playoffs, you play against a bigger guy, that may be when they hit their Achilles heel and lose a game.”

BYU is at the top with a 5-0 conference record and 8-0 overall. Iowa State is 7-1 and 4-1 in the Big 12, tied with Colorado for second place. The good news for Colorado is they are 6-2 overall but are 4-1 in the conference, despite losing to Kansas State. The aforementioned Wildcats are 4-2 in the Big 12.

As far as tiebreakers are concerned, BYU has the inside track to the conference championship. Colorado does not play Iowa State head-to-head, which is the first tiebreaker. The next tiebreaker is win percentage against all common conference opponents.

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Based on what’s left, Colorado had to win its last four games, starting with Texas Tech, to make the Big 12 Championship. Based on the second tiebreaker, Colorado needs Iowa State to lose one more game to open the path to the championship game.

If that’s the case, Colorado has a compelling case as a CFP contender, should they be 10-2 against an undefeated or a one-loss BYU team.

Of course, the Buffaloes will make the College Football Playoff by winning the Big 12 at 11-2, since they would be one of the five highest-ranked champions. More than likely, Colorado will be one of the four highest-ranked champs and get a first round bye in that scenario.

It helps to have a Heisman contender in Hunter, as well as Shedeur Sanders under center. Perhaps Deion Sanders was right about last year saying: “you better get us right now because this is the worst we’re gonna be.”