Greg McElroy: North Dakota State 'built to exploit' Colorado weaknesses, presents problem for Deion Sanders

There could be a lot at stake for Colorado and Deion Sanders when the Buffaloes play North Dakota State Thursday night.

In a season open many circled on the calendar, this could make or break Colorado’s campaign before September. ESPN’s Greg McElroy had to remind folks North Dakota State is no pushover.

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Even with the game in Boulder, Sanders and Colorado can’t underestimate the Bison.

“You summed it up perfectly, Greeny,” McElroy said Thursday on ESPN’s Get Up. “I mean, I don’t even feel like I have anything else to add. If you haven’t watched North Dakota State, they are built to exploit the weaknesses that Colorado had last year. This is a [Buffs] team that has terrific skill personnel. Colorado is as good as anybody at wide receiver and at quarterback. The problem is they were atrocious, and I use that word lovingly, on the offensive and defensive lines last year. 

“North Dakota State, that’s how they’re built. They’re built from the inside out, and if they want to play in a phone booth, you’re going to play in a phone booth. It’s going to be up to Deion Sanders and his staff to make sure that his players skill, speed, talent, acceleration, athleticism,” Finebaum continued. “That’s what wins in the game, because if they want to get into an old school throw down, slugfest where it’s three yards and a cloud of dust, you’re playing right in North Dakota State’s hand. So I think they didn’t be super careful tonight against a team that’s super physical, and placed the chip on the shoulder.”

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Colorado, Deion Sanders have tricky game vs. North Dakota State

Fellow ESPN analyst Harry Douglas agreed. Judging by all the initial hype brought up last fall, there’s a lot of pressure on Sanders and Colorado.

“Well, I would say when you look at last year when they went and played TCU, you see how that set their season up,” Douglas said. “And when I say set their season up, I mean the first four games. Deion Sanders and his Colorado program, was the talk of college football. It wasn’t Alabama, it wasn’t USC, it wasn’t Ohio State, it was the Colorado Buffaloes.

“But I would say this, when you look at North Dakota State’s quarterback, Cam Miller, he’s a chess piece because he’s a guy that completed 71% of his passes last year, but also rushed for 13 touchdowns, so you have to make sure you’re able to contain him.” 

For Sanders and Colorado, the Buffaloes have be to solid in the trenches or things could get dicey.

“Now, Greg talked about the offensive line, five new guys starting from Colorado,” Douglas said. “This season, they got a five-star recruit in Jordan Seaton, but when you have a Travis Hunter, and you also have a Shedeur Sanders, two guys who I expect to be in the top 10 of the NFL draft in 2025, you should be able to win this ball game. But do not get into a slug fest. Make this thing over early and send North Dakota State home.”