Coach Prime’s Legacy Test: Can Colorado’s Football Coach Deliver Wins without Star Players?
When Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders arrived in Boulder in 2023, he brought swagger, cameras, and a new identity to Colorado football. In just two years, he turned the Buffaloes into one of the most talked-about programs in America, selling out stadiums, dominating headlines, and making CU football matter again. Now, in year three, the landscape has changed. His sons, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders, have gone to the NFL. The roster is younger, the depth chart thinner, but the spotlight? Still blazing hot. This offseason, Sanders doubled down on his commitment to Colorado, signing a five-year, $54 million contract extension that keeps him in Boulder through 2029. It’s a declaration by both Prime and the university: the hype train isn’t slowing down. Yet, it also raises the stakes. Tonight, against Georgia Tech, the Buffs open their 2025 season in a matchup that feels less about the scoreboard and more about the statement.
Filling the Void and Finding Identity
The challenge without Shedeur and Shilo is clear. Shedeur was the heartbeat of the offense, a record-shattering quarterback who carried the Buffs through close battles and put their name back into national conversations. Replacing his leadership and sophistication under center is no easy task. Shilo’s energy and versatility gave the defense its swagger, and his absence leaves a noticeable void in a unit that struggled with consistency last year. Now, Colorado must find its identity without the Sanders brothers as its foundation. Prime has leaned heavily on the transfer portal once again, reloading with speed and explosiveness across the roster. The question is whether this new group can gel fast enough to survive a grueling Power Four schedule. Year three is about proving that the flash and charisma that Sanders brings to Boulder can also translate into substance and long-term success.
Spotlight on Georgia Tech
Colorado’s season opener against Georgia Tech is the perfect stage to test Coach Prime’s theory. Georgia Tech is a disciplined, gritty team that punishes mistakes and thrives on ugly, physical football. For the Buffs, execution will be everything: can the new quarterback remain poised in his debut? Will the offensive line, an Achilles’ heel in past seasons, finally hold its ground? Can the defense rally together without Shilo’s leadership in the secondary? The stakes go far beyond the scoreboard. A win would set the tone that Sanders’ program is capable of reloading, not rebuilding. A loss, however, would turn up the pressure on a coach being paid like an SEC giant while still building in Boulder. Nat’s prediction: Colorado edges Georgia Tech 31–27 in a thriller, carried by explosive plays and a defense that bends but doesn’t break. Looking ahead, I hope to see the Buffs develop an offensive identity that isn’t quarterback-dependent, improve in the trenches, and build true depth instead of relying solely on headlines. Coach Prime has the charisma, the spotlight, and the money. Now, year three is about building the legacy because Boulder doesn’t just need hype anymore; it needs wins.
