Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Spring/Summer – 2025

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June 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews Delaware Blue Hens

From the Daily Camera … After winning the D-II title in 1979, Delaware jumped to I-AA in 1980 and was routinely in the playoffs, including four times from 2018-23. The Blue Hens reached the I-AA/FCS title game four times, winning the championship in 2003.

Ineligible for the playoffs last year because of the transition to the FBS, Delaware still went 9-2 and will now join Conference USA with hopes of maintaining its winning ways.

“Thanks to our recently opened Whitney Athletic Center and improvements to Delaware Stadium and other facilities, we are confident that we have the infrastructure in place at UD to compete with the very best in college football and simultaneously witness the growth of our other intercollegiate programs in the department,” athletic director Chrissi Rawak said during a press release announcing Delaware’s move on Nov. 28, 2023. “UD Athletics continues to ascend, and Blue Hen football is prepared to take the next step and lead the way.”

C-USA has been the landing spot for recent programs moving up from the FCS. Last year, Kennesaw State went 2-10 in its first FBS season. In 2023, Jacksonville State went 9-4 and Sam Houston 3-9 in their jump from FCS to C-USA. This year, Missouri State joins Delaware in the move from the FCS to C-USA.

How the Blue Hens fare remains to be seen, of course, but they are bringing back several veterans to help head coach Ryan Carty in the transition.

Carty, who has led Delaware to at least eight wins in each of his three seasons, has some experience at quarterback, but it’s unclear who will start.

Senior Zach Marker and junior Nick Minicucci are battling for the job, and it’s possible both will play. Marker, who began his career in junior college, has made six starts in his two years at Delaware and appeared in just four games last year before redshirting. Minicucci has made six starts in his career, five of them last year.

Although three different quarterbacks started last year, Delaware ranked 12th in the FCS in scoring (34.9 points per game) and 11th in total yards (434.9 per game). The Blue Hens were top 30 in both passing and rushing.

Despite losing their top receiver and rusher, the Blue Hens have some talent ready to emerge. Running back Jo’Nathan Silver (462 yards, 4 TD) and receivers Jake Thaw (41 catches), Max Patterson (25 catches) and Ja’Carree Kelly (17 catches) are looking for breakout seasons.

Former CU tight end Caleb Fauria returns to Folsom Field after earning third-team all-conference honors last year with the Blue Hens, who also return three starting linemen.

Defensively, Delaware was 19th in the FCS in points allowed (21.0) and 21st in yards allowed (319.6) in 2024 and was especially stingy against the run, ranking ninth (107.0).

A unique defense with three linemen and three safeties, the Blue Hens return seven starters, including all three safeties; that group is led by KT Seay. Nose tackle Keyshawn Hunter, linebackers Gavin Moul and Dillon Trainer, and defensive end Noah Matthews (a transfer from Kentucky) are key players, as well.

… Read full story here …

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June 18th

… CU in a few minutes …

First sellout of the season: Parents’ Weekend v. Wyoming tickets are gone

From CUBuffs.com … The first one is officially in the books.  The Colorado Buffaloes will once again celebrate Family Weekend in front of a packed Folsom Field as the football game against Wyoming is officially sold out, the first sellout of the 2025 season.

In the Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders Era, CU has sold out more games than any two-year stretch in school history, 10 games,  and the first sellout for 2025 is coming about a month before the first sellout was announced for the 2024 season. At this pace, opportunities for fans to see the 2025 Buffaloes at iconic Folsom Field will soon be limited.

Other games are selling fast, including CU’s season opener against Georgia Tech, a Friday Night Lights game on August 29 to kickoff the season.  Demand for the Georgia Tech game is greater than any season opener in the last five years except the 2023 Nebraska game, which was Coach Prime’s first game and just the second time Nebraska visited Folsom after the two parted ways as conference rivals.

While it’s the first match-up against the Yellow Jackets, the two have a shared history of the 1990 National Championship.  CU won the consensus national championship but Georgia Tech was crowned champions in the coaches poll that season.

Single game inventory has also decreased due to a 13 percent rise in the season ticket base, and season tickets have also sold out.

Two other big home games will also happen in September with Delaware playing its second-ever FBS game in Boulder on Sept. 6 in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.  New conference rival BYU will also visit Boulder on Sept. 27 in an Alamo Bowl rematch with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m.

CU’s remaining home schedule includes matchups against old Big Eight and Big 12 rival Iowa State (Oct. 11), which is also showing a high demand, a Homecoming matchup against vs. Arizona (Nov. 1), and senior day match-up against Arizona State (Nov. 22).

For more information on single-game football tickets, including premium seating and group opportunities, please visit CU’s ticket information center.   Tickets for Wyoming are available on CU’s secondary ticket partner, SeatGeek.

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June 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews CU’s opener against Georgia Tech

From the Daily Camera … Although the programs have been linked for 35 years, since splitting the national title in 1990, CU and Georgia Tech have never met on the football field. Their first meeting will be intriguing, as the Buffs look for a hot start with some new weapons and the Yellow Jackets aim for a win in what could be their best season in nearly a decade.

While Tech won’t be a top-5 team, Haynes is a much better and more seasoned player than the last time he came to the Centennial State. After three seasons at A&M, King is entering his third season with the Yellow Jackets, who could be a sleeper in the race for the ACC title.

Georgia Tech is entering its third full season under head coach Brent Key, a former Yellow Jackets offensive lineman who has brought some energy back to the program. Tech didn’t reach bowl eligibility in four years under previous head coach Geoff Collins, but has gone to two consecutive bowls with back-to-back 7-6 seasons under Key.

This year, they are led by King, a talented dual threat who had a nation-best touchdown-to-interception rate of 7-to-1 (14 TDs, 2 INT) and also ran for 11 scores last year. He has rushed for at least 500 yards in back-to-back seasons.

Now a third-year starter, King has several weapons around him, too. Tech returns leading rusher Jamal Haynes, top receiver Malik Rutherford and first-team All-ACC right guard Keylan Rutledge.

Although three offensive linemen need to be replaced, Tech appears to have the tools to possibly be better offensively after finishing top-60 nationally in scoring (28.9 points per game), total yards (424.5), rushing (187.0) and passing (237.5).

Defensively, they were solid last year, giving up 25.2 points (67th nationally) and 342.8 yards (42nd) per game. The Yellow Jackets brought in new coordinator Blake Gideon from Texas (where he was the safeties coach) and bolstered the defense through the portal, so there is hope for improvement on that side of the ball.

… Read full story here …

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June 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Single Transfer Portal Window (January) concept gaining traction

From The Athletic … The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee is expected to have a deep discussion on a single portal window. The hope is to come out with a recommendation and begin a path to solidify a change before the upcoming season.

“I’m confident we’ll get there,” committee chair and Buffalo athletic director Mark Alnutt told The Athletic.

But when would that single window be? And what would it mean for players and teams?

According to several people involved in the process, granted anonymity in order to describe the state of discussions before a formal decision, early January is the option with the most momentum; one person described it as an 80-20 split. At its annual convention this January in Charlotte, the American Football Coaches Association proposed the window run Jan. 2-12 beginning in 2026, following a unanimous vote of dozens of FBS head coaches in attendance.

That date would allow most schools to finish the season with their full team, a response to rising numbers of opt-outs from bowl games and even College Football Playoff teams losing players off their roster. It would also help set teams in place heading into spring practice, especially as rosters begin to shrink with the House settlement roster limits.

“I want January,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said. “I want to get my team, and I want to roll and get ready for winter conditioning, spring football, and take that team into the fall.”

The institution of a transfer window only restricts when players can enter the portal. They aren’t required to pick a new school in that time, though their prospective schools’ academic calendars may create a deadline.

One player agent, granted anonymity to discuss his work with players, told The Athletic he prefers January and tells his clients to avoid the spring portal anyway unless they’re an elite athlete. The agent was concerned that a later portal could cause kids to check out and create a limbo period, or that it would open up even more opportunities for springtime tampering.

Not everyone is on board with a January portal window. Multiple people involved in the process said some power conference schools prefer spring, especially those whose academic calendars run on a quarter system and start class earlier in January, before the portal closes.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 14th

… CU in a few minutes … 

RB Dekalon Taylor: “I feel like I can add a lot of value, just off my speed and agility and my vision”

From the Daily Camera … Living in San Antonio, as a student at the University of Incarnate Word, Dekalon Taylor wanted to see the Colorado Buffaloes in person during the Alamo Bowl in December.

“Tickets were just way too high for me, so I ended up watching it on TV,” Taylor said.

He never envisioned that just a few months later he would be joining the Buffs.

“It’s crazy how the tables turn,” he said.

After a stellar season at UIW last year, Taylor entered the transfer portal and committed to the Buffs last month. He’s now going through summer workouts, but talked with BuffZone before those workouts began.

“I chose Colorado just for the fan base, as well as the coaching staff and what they have to offer, all the vets on the staff,” Taylor said. “They’ve been in the position that I’m trying to get to, and that’s the NFL, so why not go to the best?”

CU running backs coach Marshall Faulk, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and assistant running backs coach Johnnie Mack reached out to Taylor when he hit the portal.

“They were very interested in me and my play style,” Taylor said. “We talked about the things I could work on, things that I’m really good at, and overall, I feel like they could develop me the best. … I feel like I can add a lot of value to that room, just off my speed and agility and my vision.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 11th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: “I can assure you that everything is okay and will continue to be so”

Tweet from Coach Prime … Wow, I am truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I can assure you all that everything is OKAY and will continue to be so. God got me like no other. I have so much more work to do to Glorify God so please believe God got me! I’m excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program. When we arrive back to Boulder you will be updated on everything. . Until then, I’M COMING BABY, #CoachPrime

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June 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime’s health drawing national attention 

… Note … During an interview with DNVR this past Friday,  Christopher Neely of Thee Pregame Show shared his thoughts on the situation. “He’s doing good, man,” Neely said of Sanders. “One of the things we ended spring saying was this was the most energetic and enthusiastic Coach Prime I’ve been with him, going back to the spring COVID season.

“As you say him tell Asante, he had a little setback. But nothing that with rest, he can’t overcome. I FaceTimed with him the other day. When he is home, people get a to-do list. Please know he is still the head coach of this football program as he takes some time off. But he is still engaged, energetic.”

From ESPN …  Colorado coach Deion Sanders has been ill and out of the office recently, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

Sanders has been at his estate in Texas dealing with an “unspecified health issue” as the school’s annual summer football camps began last week, according to a report in USA Today. A timetable for his return is unknown, but on Sunday, his eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., appeared on a YouTube livestream from the Texas home and said his father was “feeling well.”

“He’ll tell y’all soon enough what he’s going through, what he went through,” Deion Jr. stated, according to USA Today. “When we get back to Boulder, I don’t know. I’m waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I’ll go. Until then, I’m going to sit here with him.”

Sanders, 57, canceled his speaking engagement scheduled for June 8 in Florida at the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Educational Symposium. The organization posted the update on X: “Due to an unavoidable last-minute scheduling change, our originally scheduled Foundation Keynote Speaker, Deion Sanders ‘Coach Prime,’ is unable to attend. We are grateful for his support and look forward to future opportunities to welcome him.”

Sanders has dealt with health issues before. In 2022, he had two toes on his left foot amputated because of blood clots that developed from a previous surgery. In 2023, Sanders had a procedure to relieve clots in both of his legs and missed Pac-12 media day.

In late May, Sanders mentioned a health issue in a podcast with former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel, according to USA Today, but didn’t provide details.

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Video of artificial turf installation at Folsom Field

From YouTube, courtesy of 9News in Denver (thanks to CU at the Gamer Shay for finding the video) …

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June 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rick George on House settlement: “We’re all in. We’re going to be very aggressive”

From the Daily Camera … As the future of college athletics goes through a dramatic change, the University of Colorado is prepared to go all-in.

On Friday, district judge Claudia Wilken in Northern California approved the House v. NCAA settlement, which will allow schools around the country to directly pay student-athletes through revenue sharing beginning July 1.

The settlement is a landmark change in college athletics and one that CU is ready to embrace.

“We’re all in,” CU athletic director Rick George told BuffZone in a recent interview. “We’re going to be all in, and this is going to be a group effort. … We’re going to be very aggressive, going out and looking at revenue streams, and obviously our donations that we get from donors is an area that we’re going to emphasize.”

Schools can pay student-athletes up to $20.5 million during the 2025-26 school year, to be divided among different sports. It’s widely expected that football and men’s basketball teams – the two sports that generate the most revenue – will receive most of that money.

While schools don’t have to reach the cap (which is expected to increase every year), George said CU plans to hit the cap. George and his administrative team have been working for nearly a year to be ready for the July 1 start date, including how to earn the money and how to allocate the funds. CU is still figuring out a plan of how to allocate money to different sports.

“It’s a challenging time for our peers and for us, because you just don’t have $20.5 million lying around,” George said. “So it’s going to require some difficult decisions and we’ve just got to be willing to make them. But our goal in all of this is that we want to compete at the highest level, so we’re going to participate at the highest level.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 7th

… CU in a few minutes …

**CU posts FAQ about the House settlement and its affects on CU athletics**

From Rick George …

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From CUBuffs.com …

Q: What is “The Settlement”?
A: The Settlement is a $2.8 billion antitrust class action settlement that resolves  In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (a consolidation of House v. National Collegiate Athletic Association and Carter v. National Collegiate Athletic Association) and Hubbard v. National Collegiate Athletic Association as approved by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Although the settlement officially includes all three antitrust suits brought against the NCAA, it’s commonly referred to as just “The House Case”

Q: What does the Settlement mean for CU? 
A: The Settlement enables athletic departments, like CU’s, to share its revenue with student-athletes, via direct compensation, in exchange for a license to use their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The Settlement has created a cap of $20.5 million per university each year that can be paid to student-athletes. These funds are separate from, and in addition to, the benefits CU already provides student-athletes like tuition, meals, room & board, health care, etc.

Q: Why is the annual compensation cap set at $20.5 million?
A: $20.5 million is 22% of the average revenue generated by all institutions (plus the University of Notre Dame) within the ‘Power Five’ conferences – the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC. This cap is set to increase by 4% each school year and will be recalibrated every three years. It’s up to each school to determine how much to spend within the cap and how to divide up their cap dollars amongst sport programs.

Q: Does every NCAA school have to participate in revenue sharing?
A: Only institutions named as defendant conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) in the Settlement are required to participate in revenue sharing. Participation is permissive for all other conferences.

Q: Will CU share its revenue up to the $20.5 million cap?
A: Yes, it is our intention to distribute the maximum allotted compensation to student-athletes each year.

Q: Is this additional money coming from the University or student tuition?
A: Revenue sharing funds will be paid out of the Department of Athletics budget and not from University tuition or state/federal funding. This is why support from CU fans is more vital than ever to ensuring our student-athletes have the resources needed to succeed.

Q: How will revenue be distributed? 
A: The Settlement does not dictate how an institution must disburse revenue sharing funds, so methodology and execution will vary between schools. CU Athletics will use a revenue-based, unbiased and nondiscriminatory model in which the programs that generate the most revenue will receive the majority of the revenue-sharing. Based on this budget, the sport program determines the amount of compensation each student-athlete receives. The student-athlete will, then, be offered a licensing agreement.

Q: Will every CU student-athlete sign a licensing agreement?
A: The compensation amount and term length will vary, but every CU student-athlete, regardless of sport, will have an opportunity to participate in revenue-sharing via an institutional licensing agreement.

Q: Does this mean student-athletes are now CU employees and can be cut if they don’t perform? 
A: No. A revenue sharing licensing agreement is not tied to athletic performance or results. It enables the Athletic Department to use a student-athlete’s NIL rights to market and promote individual sports, the Athletic Department, and the University. Student-athletes will still be required to remain academically and athletically eligible in order to compete.

Q: How will CU Athletics use the student-athletes’ NIL Rights?
A: CU Athletics will compensate student-athletes for a license to include their name, image and likeness in all of the marketing, promotion and publicity activities our fans are used to. This includes team posters, social media features, in-venue videos as well as a number of appearances such as Buff Belles, the Pearl Street Stampede, and team autograph sessions.

Q: How does revenue sharing compensation impact athletic scholarships?
A: Student-athletes will continue to sign institutional Financial Aid Agreements, at an amount determined by the sport program. This aid covers things like tuition, fees, room and board. Financial Aid Agreements exist separately from, and are governed by different rules than, the new licensing agreements that student-athletes will sign.

Q: Is CU cutting any sports?
A: No.

Q: Is CU cutting scholarships for any sports? If so, which sports and why?
A: The House settlement will replace scholarship limits with roster limits. We have been evaluating our rosters in order to best meet the roster limit requirements outlined in the agreement. Some of our Olympic sports will be impacted with roster reductions. All decisions regarding roster sizes are dictated by Title IX requirements.

Q: Will there be “Walk-Ons” anymore?
A: Some CU sport programs will be able to have non-scholarship student-athletes participating on their team if they are within that sport’s roster limit.

Q: What about former student-athletes?
A: A significant piece of the Settlement is back damages to be paid by the NCAA to former student-athletes who competed from 2016-2024. To learn more about this part of the Settlement, visit collegeathletecompensation.com

Q: Can student-athletes still engage in NIL deals on their own?
A: Yes. In addition to a student-athlete’s institutional licensing agreement, they are still able to engage in individual NIL deals with third parties. These deals are now subject to review and approval through a national clearinghouse, which requires the third party to disclose their association to the University, prove a valid business purpose and provide payment within a fair range of compensation. A student-athlete could face eligibility ramifications for accepting a deal that is not approved by the Clearinghouse.

Q: When a student-athlete has their own NIL deal, does that count towards CU’s revenue sharing cap?
A: No. When a student-athlete earns compensation through an individual NIL deal with a third party, these funds are considered ‘above cap’ and do not impact the student-athlete’s licensing agreement with CU nor count towards CU’s ‘spending’ within the $20.5 million annual limit.

Q: What’s happening to Collectives?
A: Collectives (booster groups that support a specific institution through engaging in NIL deals only with those student-athletes) may still exist throughout the country. Just like any third party, though, the deals a Collective offers to student-athletes will be subject to scrutiny via national clearinghouse. As part of the clearinghouse process, a Collective will have to disclose their association to the University and prove that their entity has a valid business purpose (beyond just student-athlete NIL deals).

Here at CU, in order to increase efficiency and oversight, we have brought the responsibilities previously undertaken by Collectives in-house.

Q: How do businesses get involved with CU student-athletes? 
A: The NIL Office within CU Athletics educates third parties, operates the Buffs NIL Exchange and helps facilitate NIL deals between businesses and student-athletes. For more information or if you’d like to get involved, email: BuffsNIL@colorado.edu

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June 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Kickoff Luncheon set for August 15th

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June 5th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Jordan Seaton to conduct a football camp in his hometown of Washington D.C. 

From Athlon Sports … As the Colorado Buffaloes transition into the post-Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter era, sophomore offensive tackle Jordan Seaton has quietly climbed into the spotlight.

A consensus five-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Seaton exploded onto the scene in 2024 as the first true freshman to start at left tackle in school history.

Now, off the field, Seaton is making moves to solidify his star status.

Wednesday, Seaton appeared on Reach The People Media’s YouTube channel to reveal his next big move: hosting his own football camp back in his hometown of Washington, D.C.

“Yeah, ’cause I’m going to have a camp back home and I need all the young lions,” Seaton said. “This ain’t no typical, you know, like your average camp. This is a one-on-one, what’s in the bag, elite football camp. Like, put your family on the map. Put your name on the map. Put your city on the map.”

With both Sanders and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Hunter having moved on to the NFL, Seaton has quickly emerged not only as a cornerstone of Colorado’s offensive front but also as an unlikely face of leadership in Boulder.

… Read full story here …

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June 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Judge in House case extends time to appeal perilously close to start of 2025-26 academic year 

From CBS Sports … The marathon legal battle regarding player compensation and the makeup of college athletics in a landmark, multibillion-dollar antitrust case took another turn Monday night.

A federal judge granted attorneys involved in the $2.8 billion settlement an extension to to file “summary judgement and Daubert briefing.” With both sides still waiting for a final judgement and the original deadline coming on June 6, the new June 27 date provides proper time for a potential appeal. It also pushes the timeline for a potential resolution even closer to the expected start of revenue sharing payments to athletes on July 1.

Both sides came to a compromise on tweaking the aspect of roster limits in the settlement on May 7, which they hope will convince a federal judge to grant final approval. The judge twice voiced concerns over proposed roster limits, a small but significant aspect of the deal that will enable schools to pay athletes a portion of their media revenues, capped at $20.5 million.

Under the compromise, schools would be allowed — but not required — to reinstate players who were cut from rosters during the 2024-25 academic year without those players counting against new roster limits set to be implemented July 1. Purged players exempt from roster limits can also transfer to new schools.

The key language in the brief, however, is that roster-limit exceptions are to be made at a school’s discretion. It remains to be seen if the brief will satisfy Judge Claudia Wilken of the Northern District of California, who specifically asked attorneys to “grandfather” all players into the deal, after twice delaying a decision on whether to approve the settlement in April.

“In other words, there are no guarantees that designated student-athletes will get or maintain roster spots,” the NCAA and power conference’s counsel wrote in a supplemental brief Wednesday. “But that does not adversely affect any injunctive relief class member.”

High school seniors who were promised scholarships that were later rescinded because of the proposed roster limits will also be exempt.

Now, college athletics waits – again – for a decision from federal court. Wilken gave preliminary approval in October, speaking in favor of most aspects of the deal. However, she has twice delayed final approval because of language tied to roster limits, which could lead to an estimated 5,000 players being cut from sports across the NCAA.

Several objectors testified April 7 against replacing scholarship limits with roster limits at a settlement hearing in the District Court of Northern California. In a brief filed April 23, Wilken ordered attorneys to develop a plan to “grandfather” current players into the agreement, allowing schools to temporarily exceed new limits as part of a phase-in solution for rosters. A two-week negotiation ensued.

If Wilken is not satisfied with the parties’ resolution and declines final approval, the case may advance to trial, a daunting prospect for the NCAA, which has been bludgeoned legally over student-athlete compensation and lambasted by the Supreme Court over the last five years. If the NCAA and power conferences lose in trial, the parties could be liable for $20 billion in damages.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: Health issues have cost him 14 pounds; out of the media spotlight for the past month

From Athlon Sports … Former NFL All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel recently sparked debate after declaring on social media that he belongs in the same all-time tier as Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders.

The online back-and-forth led to Sanders joining Samuel on the ‘Say What Needs to Be Said’ podcast on Friday night. The two former stars tackled rumors of a rift and shared insights on cornerback play in today’s game.

However, the tone of the hour-long episode shifted at the end when Sanders opened up about ongoing health concerns. He revealed unexpected weight loss and hinted at a health issue, calling it “on another level.” Cue to the 1:00:13 mark.

When Samuel asked if fasting was involved, Sanders replied by saying it more serious. He noted this was his first public appearance since a press conference on April 22, adding that he needed to go on the podcast for a boost.

“I’ve done no media. I’ve done nothing for a minute, Sanders admitted. “So coming on with you is something. I ain’t been in front of nobody for a minute. I lost about 14 pounds. I’m coming back, but I needed this.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 1st

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Accomplishes Top Spring, Cumulative GPA In School History

From CUBuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes continue to get it done in the classroom.  CU’s 342 student-athletes achieved the highest Spring GPA in school history (3.264) and thus pushed its cumulative GPA (3.294) to its highest mark in history, as well.

Three teams achieved above a 3.7 GPA, which are the three highest team GPAs on record (since 1996), and double CU’s all-time number of team term GPAs over a 3.7 from three to six.

The women’s ski team set a CU record with a 3.825 GPA—the first 3.8 in school history—followed closely by tennis (3.761) and lacrosse (3.733). These mark the top three term GPAs ever at CU. The women’s ski team had previously reached the 3.7 mark three times, with a prior high of 3.713 in Fall 2023.

“I am very proud of our student athletes, coaches and Herbst academic staff led by Kris Livingston for this great accomplishment,” Athletic Director Rick George said. “We have created a great culture around our academic program and we are seeing the results of that effort year after year.”

In all, five teams posted the highest Spring GPA in their respective sport’s history.  On top of women’s skiing, tennis and lacrosse, that was accomplished by the men’s track & field team (3.292), which is the highest GPA for that program in any semester, and the football team, which posted a 2.957, which is the best spring and second-best overall GPA behind a 3.011 GPA last fall.  The football team’s cumulative GPA remained over the 3.0 mark.

“These are big-time results,” Executive Senior Associate AD for Student Success Kris Livingston said. “For the most part, the student-athletes are dialed-in and strive for excellence in their sport, the classroom, and in the community. The staff in the Herbst Academic Center and the coaches partner to provide expectations, support, and accountability.”

Nine of CU’s 15 programs achieved either the best fall or spring GPA in that sport’s history in 2024-25 with four programs, football, lacrosse, tennis and men’s track & field, each having both the best fall and best spring GPA in their respective sport’s history.

Every women’s program achieved above a 3.3 GPA for the first time in school history and 12 of CU’s 15 teams achieved above a 3.2 GPA in the spring.  Over 68% of CU student-athletes had a 3.0 GPA in the spring with 46% over a 3.5 GPA and 39 achieved a perfect 4.0 for the semester.

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May 31st

... CU in a few minutes … 

CU season tickets sell out for third consecutive year

From the Daily Camera … Now, the Buffaloes have done it three years in a row, according to a BuffZone source at CU.

Sanders’ third season with the Buffaloes kicks off Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech (6 p.m., ESPN) at Folsom Field. The home slate includes seven games at Folsom Field for the first time since 1982.

Last year, CU sold approximately 23,000 season tickets, and 98% of those have been renewed for this year. This is the third year in a row where the Buffs’ season ticket renewal rate finished above 98%, the three best marks in school history. CU was at 93% on renewals in 2016 and 96% in 2017, but was in the mid- to low-80s in 2021 and 2022.

CU will distribute approximately 26,000 season tickets this year, about 3,000 more than last year.

Before Sanders was hired, giving the struggling program a jolt of energy, CU had not sold out of season tickets since 1996. In fact, the Buffs had sold out of season tickets just eight times in its history before Sanders’ arrival: in 1972, and seven consecutive years from 1990-96.

This is the third year in a row that CU’s season tickets were sold out before June. CU had never sold out of season tickets before August prior to Sanders’ tenure.

In addition to the season tickets, CU will offer student sports passes. Last year, around 12,000 were offered to students.

Single game tickets went on sale to the public earlier this week. Those can be purchased at CUBuffs.com.

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May 30th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Big 12 Commissioner supports 5/11+ CFP model: “We want to earn it on the field”

From ESPN … Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark reiterated his support for the 5+11 College Football Playoff model, saying Friday that even though the Big Ten and SEC are leading the discussions, those conferences have a “great responsibility” that goes with it.

Over the past several days, momentum has grown for an expanded 16-team playoff that would feature the top five conference champions as automatic qualifiers and 11 at-large teams, a model Yormark presented when the Power 4 commissioners met recently in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Another model that has been presented includes four automatic qualifiers each for the Big Ten and SEC, two each for the ACC and Big 12, and one for the top Group of 5 team. Both the Big 12 and ACC are against that model.

The Big Ten and SEC have the bulk of control over the playoff’s format in 2026 and beyond, something the other FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua agreed to last year when a new six-year deal for the CFP was announced.

“I think there’s real momentum for 5-11,” Yormark said at the conclusion of the Big 12 spring meetings. “Certainly, the public is voting yes for it, which I think is critically important. Yes, the Big Ten, the SEC are leading the discussions, but with leading those discussions, they have a great responsibility that goes with it, to do what’s right for college football and not to do anything that just benefits two conferences.

“I have a lot of faith in the process, and I think we’ll land in the right place.”

Yormark was asked why the Big 12 would be against a model that would guarantee two playoff spots for his conference.

“In talking to our ADs and coaches, we want to earn it on the field,” Yormark said. “The 5-11 might not be ideal for the conference, but it’s good for college football, and it’s what’s fair. We don’t want any gimmes. We want to earn it on the field. I feel very comfortable with that, and I feel the same way, and I’ve been very outspoken about it.”

… Continue reading story here …

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May 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Kickoff times set for Delaware, Houston, and BYU games

Press release from CUBuffs.com … The Big 12 Conference in conjunction with its television partners ESPN, FOX and TNT Sports Thursday announced TV selections and game times for three additional Colorado Buffaloes football games for the 2025 season.

CU’s Week 2 matchup with Delaware on Sept. 6 will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. MT and be televised by FOX.  CU will then head to Houston in Week 3 for a Friday (Sept. 12) will kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN.  Also announced is CU’s Week 5 matchup with BYU on September 27 which will kickoff at 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.

Previously announced during the ABC Upfront was CU’s season opener against Georgia Tech on Friday, August 29, which will kickoff at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN.

With its first three games now announced, CU will extend its school record streak to 16 straight games on either network TV or the flagship ESPN.  In 2024, all 13 games were selected by those networks for the first time in CU history.  In the Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders Era, with the four games announced CU now has 25 of 29 games selected by either network TV or the flagship ESPN.

CU has also had two of its three Spring Games on ESPN in the last three years, in 2023 being the only such game televised on the main ESPN channel, and one of just two on either ESPN or ESPN2, and this past season CU was the only spring game not on a conference network or streaming service after being televised by ESPN2.  CU also had its NFL Showcase Pro Day televised by NFL Network last month, continuing that unprecedented spotlight on the program.

The Buffaloes and Delaware Blue Hens will meet for the first time in 2025.  Added to the non-conference schedule ahead of the 2024 season after the Buffs and Houston became conference foes, Delaware is reclassifying to the FBS in 2025 as a member of Conference USA and has a rich history in the FCS with six national championships.

Originally a non-conference game, CU and Houston will meet for the first time at Big 12 opponents.  The two have previously played just one time on the gridiron, the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl, when No. 7 Colorado beat No. 15 Houston 29-17 to cap at 10-2 season and final AP ranking of No. 3 behind No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Oklahoma, still the only time one conference has occupied the top three spots in the final poll.

In a rematch of last year’s Alamo Bowl, BYU visits Boulder on Sept. 27 pairing up two of the four teams that tied for first place in the 2024 Big 12 regular season standings.  This will be the first match-up between BYU and CU in a conference game since 1947 when the two were in the Mountain States Conference.  CU has played the Cougars three times since that 1947 match-up, a regular season game in 1981, the 1988 Freedom Bowl and last year’s Alamo Bowl.  CU won the first six games in the series and lead by a 8-4-1 record.

From this point forward, it’s expected that times and television will be selected 12 days ahead of gameday with the exception of four six-day selections the TV partners can engage contractually throughout the season.

A full detail of how games and TV are selected can be found here. 

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May 27th

… CU in a few minutes …

Nebraska makes cover of EA Sports College Football 26 – with a “Beat CU” license plate

… You can’t make this stuff up … Last season, Travis Hunter was on the cover of the much-anticipated return of EA Sports College Football. This season, Nebraska makes the cover (sort of) … 

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May 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

ESPN rates college coaches as players – Coach Prime clear No. 1

From ESPN … Every five years or so, I take a stab at ranking all of the FBS head coaches, according to their careers as college football players.

The backgrounds of coaches — where they played, what they played, how successful they were, how often they transferred — can shed light on how they manage their rosters and oversee their programs these days. The group of coaches also changes significantly in every edition of these rankings.

What really stands out about the current crop of coaches is the increased number of ex-superstar players at the helm. Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George is an FBS coach at Bowling Green. So is Deion Sanders, a national award winner and multitime All-America selection, who then became a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Former NFL players DeShaun Foster and Trent Dilfer are also leading college teams. The coaching ranks include college stars such as Timmy Chang, Steve Sarkisian and Mike Gundy, as well as those who stood out in college football’s lower divisions.

As with past rankings, I prioritized success in college football, regardless of level. Those who shined under the brightest of lights will be rewarded, but so will those who did incredible things on smaller stages. Achievements such as national awards and All-America or all-conference recognition carried weight. Reaching the FBS and the Power 4 certainly matters, but it’s more about what happened when you got there.

Some coaches in the Top 30 … 

26. Jay Norvell, Colorado State Rams: Yet another coach with Iowa/Hayden Fry roots, Norvell played safety for the Hawkeyes, much like the Stoops brothers. He became an All-Big Ten player and led the league with seven interceptions in 1985, as the team won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl. Norvell went undrafted in the NFL but became a “Spare Bear” during the 1987 labor strike and appeared in six games that season.

25. Brent Key, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Anyone who has followed Key’s coaching career knows he’s an unapologetic ex-offensive lineman who loves to RUN THE BAWL. He started at guard from 1997 to 2000 under coach George O’Leary, and earned All-ACC honors as a senior, when he also captained the team. Georgia Tech finished ranked in the AP Top 25 in all four of Key’s seasons there.

12. Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes: A coach synonymous with Utah football initially had more connections to archrival BYU. Whittingham grew up in Provo and starred for Provo High School and then BYU, where he racked up 240 tackles in his final two seasons. In 1981, he was named WAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 7 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions and 9 quarterback hurries. Whittingham played in the first four Holiday Bowls, earning Defensive MVP honors in 1981. He spent time with two USFL teams and was a replacement player for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1987 NFL labor strike.

9. Scott Frost, UCF Knights: A Parade All-America selection at Nebraska’s Wood River High School, Frost piled up yards as a dual-threat quarterback and also shined in basketball and track. But he started college at Stanford, where he played quarterback and safety before transferring back home. Frost became Nebraska’s QB1 in 1996 and had 22 touchdowns (13 pass, 9 rush), winning Big 12 newcomer of the year. In 1997, he became Nebraska’s first QB to eclipse 1,000 yards in both passing and rushing yards as he helped the team to a national title. A third-round NFL draft pick, Frost played safety for four teams in six years.

5. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Cowboys: Gundy led his high school to a state championship, earning Oklahoma Player of the Year honors, and also excelling in baseball. He then came to Oklahoma State, where he started all four seasons and began his career with 138 pass attempts without an interception, then an NCAA record. In Gundy’s final two seasons, playing alongside running backs Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State went 20-4 and won two bowl games. He finished as the Big Eight’s career leader in pass yards (8,473) and total offense (8,272 yards).

1. Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes: One of the greatest American athletes of the past 50 years, Sanders did it all and did it well at Florida State. He earned first-team All-America honors in his final two years after being named a third-team All-American in 1986. He captured the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and had 14 career interceptions, four pick-sixes, led the nation in punt returns in 1988 and had 1,429 career punt return yards with three touchdowns. Sanders also starred in baseball and track for Florida State. He played in the NFL from 1989 to 2005, earning All-Pro honors six times and being named defensive player of the year in 1994. The Pro and College Football Hall of Famer also played portions of nine seasons in Major League Baseball.

… Read full story here …

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May 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Standard set for CU’s new wide receiver corps: “The sky’s the limit for those guys”

From the Daily Camera … For the past two years, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Travis Hunter have been wowing Colorado fans with numerous big plays in the passing game.

A year ago, Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester joined the fun.

That foursome accounted for 72.2% of the passes caught by Buffs last year, but they’re now embarking on pro careers. The new crop of CU receivers may not have the big names – yet – or the history of production at the college level, but the talent is exceptional.

All four made a good impression not only on NFL scouts, but throughout their college careers and on the receivers who are returning to the Buffs this year.

“(The current CU receivers) saw those guys, and we saw them at pro day and how they go about their business,” Sanders said. “Many guys played with those guys so they understand the standard. And we have great coaching in that room.”

… “The sky’s the limit for those guys,” Sanders said. “We just gotta get the ball to them and we will find ways to do it.”

… Read full story here …

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May 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

CBS: Coach Prime “has done a tremendous job of preparing for his next era”

From CBS Sports … After a 4-8 debut, Deion Sanders led the program to only its second nine-win season in the past 20 years as do-everything athlete Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. Following the breakout season, Sanders was rewarded with a massive five-year, $54 million contract that will keep him in Boulder through 2029. It makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, and the top paid in the Big 12 by a wide margin. That doesn’t even get into the marketing effect, which brought a tremendous amount of money and attention to Colorado football, including some of the highest ratings in the sport.

For any lingering doubters, they should believe now. Sanders came to Colorado and did everything he said he would do. The Deion era at Colorado is already a success. Now, the real fun starts.

Sanders was never shy that he coached because of his sons, including Hunter as a third son. He has coached quarterback Shedeur and safety Shilo in each of his four full seasons as a college coach dating back to Jackson State. In 2022, Hunter joined the fray as the No. 1 recruit in the country, a historic coup for the HBCU.

For those years, almost everything Jackson State and Colorado did was about putting Shedeur and Travis in the best situations possible. The Buffaloes played Hunter both ways in 2023 and 2024, ultimately feeding him enough production to win the Heisman. Shedeur threw more than 900 passes over the past two years, and the team transitioned from a veer-and-shoot coordinator to a pro style to help prepare him for the NFL.

But after the graduation of both players, Sanders heads into his first year with… a normal football team. There isn’t a guaranteed NFL talent at quarterback or Heisman talent at cornerback and receiver. Instead, there isn’t a single returning All-Big 12 player at any position. The structure of the team, especially on offense, will be substantially different.

That said, Sanders has done a tremendous job of preparing for his next era. Acquiring No. 1 tackle Jordan Seaton last year was a win both in the short and long term, and he will have a shot to transform himself into one of the Big 12’s best. Quarterbacks Kaidon Salter (senior) and Julian Lewis (freshman) are both big-time talents that should keep the position rolling.

The program also cleaned up in the transfer portal one again with a top 20 class, including Alabama defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis and Florida State wide receiver Hykeem Williams. The high school recruiting also took a step up with a top-40 class and six blue-chip recruits. Colorado also has one of the best combinations of coordinators in the conference with former NFL coach Pat Shumur leading the offense, and rising star Robert Livingstone on defense.

Ultimately, Sanders won big at Jackson State. He proved he can compete at the highest level at Colorado. If he can continue to adapt to this next moment, Sanders can shoot even higher.

… Read full story here …

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This post, about the Spring/Summer game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
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