NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Colorado Buffaloes have 5 games this season to make a statement. The anti-Deion Sanders supporters will have a field day if the Budfiles get off to a slow start. In those 5 games, Colorado must be competitive and at least upset 1-2 teams.
Are those expectations fair to the team and Sanders? No. But in a conference that has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a team that played in the National Championship Game last season, there are no rest weeks ahead.
The Colorado Buffaloes will start their season off against 17th-ranked TCU on the road. Even without Max Duggan, TCU is still a ranked opponent and one the Buffaloes can beat. If Sanders can pull off this upset and begin the season 1-0, that will end some of the speculation regarding the program. But if he loses and does so in a disappointing fashion, then those same questions if he can handle the rigors of a big program will start again.
His next big matchup will come on the road again against the 15th-ranked Oregon Ducks and Heisman hopeful Bo Nix. The Buffaloes, of course, are not favorites, and many expect this to be a blowout. However, this is another game where they just learn to keep their composure in what is sure to be a highly anticipated game.
Can The Colorado Buffaloes Upset Anyone
From there, it doesn’t get any easier and the Colorado Buffaloes will do battler against Caleb Williams and the 6th-ranked USC Trojans the following week at home. Games like this is why Sanders decided to come to Colorado in the first place. If he wanted the national stage, then he got it. A blowout here is also expected but what happens if they play a close game? All eyes will be on Colorado and USC that week.
So far, that’s 3 ranked schools in the first 5 games of the season. Following USC, the next ranked opponent on their schedule will be 18th-ranked Oregon State. This is one brutal stretch for a team that finished last season with just 1 win. This could be a winnable game here as well.
To finish it all out, the Colorado Buffaloes will travel to take on the 24th-ranked Utah Utes. Once again, a winnable game. By this time, Sanders will know for sure what type of team he has on his hands.
Now, while Colorado will play 12 games this season, 5 of those are against ranked teams and that’s only because of preseason rankings. Please take into account that by the 3rd or 4th week, more teams on their schedule could be ranked.
Success for the 2023 season will be tough. While Sandera was able to bring College Gameday to Jackson State for coverage, there will be no shortage of that in his first season at Colorado. Many are expecting this to be a failure, but Sanders doesn’t believe in that word.
Ranked teams are on the schedule. He’s in the Pac 12, the school is under a microscope, and the media is ready to pounce. This is exactly where Sanders wants to be. He wants to make waves and what better way than to go out and make a statement against ranked teams on your schedule? He doesn’t have to win them all but what will the naysayers do if he wins a few? What will they say if the Colorado Buffaloes are competitive?
His first season in Boulder will not result in a National Championship but his team will be competitive with a schedule that’s as tough as any. Sanders is not running from the fight, he’s running right into it. While they have 12 games on their schedule, their season will come down to the 5 ranked teams they face.
