Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Spring/Summer

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July 21st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

SEC Commissioner: Talk of conference breaking away “real”, not leverage

From The Athletic … SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated Monday that talk of the conference breaking away is “real,” and not a leverage play.

The idea of an SEC breakaway from the NCAA — ranging from making its own rules to staging its own playoff — has been simmering within the conference for a while, then became a talking point at SEC spring meetings in late May. Sankey did not directly address the possibility during his opening comments Monday, at the start of SEC football media days, but the first question was about how real the breakaway talk was. Notably, Sankey did not downplay it.

“They’re real,” Sankey said. “People have talked about that. They’ve opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different. I do not believe that is a leverage point. I think that’s just honest communication. … I think what’s important is those comments represent a high level of frustration in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.”

But he finished his response by reiterating the preference to compete nationally, pointing to the pride he takes in the SEC’s 13 national championships in NCAA sports this past school year.

“There is meaning and value, and I do think the national expectation is that we participate in a national organization,” Sankey said. “But that national organization must function in a healthy manner. Otherwise that simmering will continue.”

Sankey also said federal legislation remains a “needed path” for college sports as a whole and that the conference is committed to getting a bill to the finish line. But he also cited “ongoing dialogue” and four broad changes the SEC is promoting to the Protect College Sports Act: legal protections, clear national standards, transparency and accountability with name, image and likeness rules and “fair and consistent standards” for conferences that also preserve institutional choice.

“If Congress is going to act, and again I believe it should for the reasons identified, we have one opportunity to get this legislation right,” Sankey said. “If Congress passes a bill and it’s signed into law, we won’t be returning to D.C. in a year or two asking and receiving help to correct the gaps that exist. That’s why it’s important that these common-sense areas be addressed now before the bill becomes law.”

… Read full story here …

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July 20th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Brian Howell moving from Daily Camera to On3 Sports/Rivals

From On3Sports.com … On3 | Rivals is proud to announce that legendary Colorado insider, Brian Howell, has joined On3 to take over our newly branded Colorado fan site, BuffBlitz.com. For the last 16 years, Brian Howell has been a well-respected reporter covering the Colorado Buffaloes, and On3 is very proud to bring on a veteran, pro’s pro to continue the elite CU coverage at On3.

“I am excited to embark on a new journey with On3 and I do so with the desire to carry on the legacy of my late, great friend, Adam Munsterteiger,” Howell said. “I can assure Colorado fans that this site will be loaded with content covering the Buffs, and that it will be the place to go for the latest news about CU athletics.

“Filling Adam’s shoes won’t be easy, but I am honored to be in this new role and carry on his legacy, and I am excited to join the team at On3!”

While this is an exciting day for On3 | Rivals, it would be remiss to not address the loss of our longtime Colorado publisher and friend, Adam Munsterteiger. In the months following Adam’s tragic death, On3 worked very closely with Adam’s wife, Liz, to ensure that she had plenty of options available, time to make the decision she felt was best for her and her family and the full support from On3.

In addition to hiring Brian Howell, we are very honored to continue partnering with Liz and BuffStampede this football season and beyond.

“Brian Howell joins On3 after a long and accomplished career covering the Buffs for the Boulder Daily Camera,” said On3 Chief Network Officer Joel Cox. “Brian’s dedication to strong team coverage, breaking news, and relationship to the fanbase made him a perfect fit for our Colorado business.

“Perhaps most importantly, Brian’s long-standing friendship with Adam Munsterteiger ensured that Adam’s legacy of responsible and dedicated journalism would endure. Liz was critical in the conversations around who would be best to carry the torch forward, and Brian was the obvious answer.  We are honored that Brian has agreed to come aboard to continue what Adam started at On3.”

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July 18th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU picks up late junior college commitment from safety/nickel back Drew Molinari

From Sports Illustrated … The Colorado Buffaloes and coach Deion Sanders just created a rare Central Coast of California following.

First the Buffaloes landed prized junior college defensive tackle Malachi Brown in May 2026 via Monterey Peninsula College, and the 6-5, 300-pound interior defender now will be joined by a prized defensive teammate of his.

This time Sanders and Colorado are adding versatile defensive back help.

Safety/nickelback Drew Molinari of Monterey Peninsula College shut his recruitment down and chose the Buffaloes. The Salinas, California native announced his decision in the early afternoon of July 18 via social media: “Buff nation! Let’s do it,” Molinari wrote.

Molinari was a December of 2025 JUCO grad who was still searching for his next collegiate stop. He reeled in six total NCAA Division I offers but mostly heard from Football Bowl Championship (FCS) schools. Western Illinois represented one of his more recent offers before the Buffaloes came through with their opportunity.

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July 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Freshman WR Alex Ward: “My goal is to come out here and be the best player to ever come out of CU”

From CUBuffs.com … Playing against older competition has never intimidated Colorado freshman wide receiver Alex Ward.

Ward began playing football in the third grade, often lining up against older players. Competing against sixth graders gave him an indication that he possessed the ability and confidence to advance in the sport.

“I was playing up and doing pretty well,” Ward said. “I thought about what I could do if I was playing with my own age group. That was when I realized I had a chance.”

That belief grew stronger when Ward received his first college scholarship offer in the eighth grade. The Carrollton, Georgia, native later reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class, enrolled early at Colorado and participated in spring practices.

Ward arrived in Boulder as a consensus four-star prospect after playing his final high school season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Rivals rated him as the No. 18 athlete in the class, while ESPN ranked him as the nation’s No. 9 athlete. The 247Sports Composite placed Ward at No. 295 nationally, and the Rivals Industry Ranking listed him at No. 257 overall.

“I wouldn’t say it has been a big adjustment because I’ve been doing it all my life,” Ward said. “Going to IMG helped because we ran a college-type schedule. Everybody has pretty much always been older than me, so this feels normal.”

Ward made the decision to reclassify with his family’s support. It also allowed him to play alongside his brother, Christian, a freshman wide receiver at Colorado.

“My family talked about it a lot and prayed about it,” Ward said. “I thought it would be cool to play with him and for us to be on the same page going through college. Hopefully, we can get to the NFL together.”

Colorado’s season opener in Atlanta will allow Ward to return to his home state and play before family members and former classmates.

“I’m excited to go back home and play in front of the hometown,” Ward said. “I’ll have family members and friends from high school coming out. I’m ready for that.”

Boulder has also made a strong impression on Ward, particularly when he saw the mountains for the first time while entering the city.

“It was pretty,” Ward said. “When I’m done with football, I could see myself coming back here, retiring, building a house and investing in some real estate.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

DL Ezra Christensen files a lawsuit to gain eligibility for 2026 season

From On3Sports.com … Colorado defensive lineman Ezra Christensen is filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in Boulder County state court, the latest legal challenge following the age-based eligibility model change. Christensen is seeking quick relief eligibility for the 2026 season after having his NCAA waiver canceled.

Colorado’s season kicks off in 50 days against Georgia Tech, putting a time crunch on a judge’s decision.

The New Mexico State transfer defensive lineman was a standout for the Lobos in 2025, posting 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive lineman was a First Team All-CUSA selection and finished with 10 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble, too. He transferred to Colorado in January.

Colorado marks Christensen’s fourth school of his career. He spent 2021 and 2022 at San Diego Mesa Junior College before spending two years at Fresno State and 2025 at New Mexico State.

One of the top returning interior defensive linemen in college football, he’s expected to be a key piece of the Colorado defense in 2026 if he’s granted an injunction against the NCAA. He ranks among the top defensive linemen eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus ranks Christensen as the No. 57 overall player in next year’s draft class and the seventh-highest-graded defensive tackle.

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July 15th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Brennan Marion: “Offensive line-wise, we’re better than we were at Texas. We’re bigger. We’re more physical”

From the Coach Prime article in The Athletic … Before his time at UNLV, CU offensive coordinator Brennan Marion spent one season in 2022 at Texas as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. That season, Texas’ second-to-last in the Big 12, gave him an interesting perspective on this turnaround job.

“Obviously, being in the Big 12 before when I was at Texas, I know other than Texas Tech, it hasn’t drastically changed as far as the players,” Marion told The Athletic. “Our O-line is better than what we had at Texas other than we don’t have (No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft) Kelvin Banks. Offensive line-wise, we’re better than we were at Texas. We’re bigger. We’re more physical. This will be the best offensive line that I’ve ever had.”

The Buffs did lose offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who left for a lot more money to join LSU, but CU was able to spread some of the money it didn’t spend on the five-star recruit to four other experienced transfer tackles from the Big Ten, SEC and ACC, including Bo Hughley (Georgia), Jayven Richardson (Missouri), Leon Bell (Cal) and Taj White (Rutgers). In addition, CU added Ohio State transfer Jayvon McFadden, center Demetrius Hunter, who started 25 games for Houston, and guard Jose Soto, who started 12 games last year at Sac State.

Marion also said he feels like Colorado is about the same receiver-wise as what he had at Texas.

“I think we have four or five NFL receivers here,” he said.

Danny Scudero, a 5-9, 180-pound transfer from San Jose State, tore up the Mountain West last season, catching 88 passes for 1,291 yards and 10 TDs. “He’s super smart,” Marion said of the former outfielder who didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school. “He’s a 4.5 guy, but he is really quick. He understands all the option routes, can play inside or outside and can run the ball out of the backfield.”

Kam Perry, another dynamic smaller receiver who put up huge numbers at the Group of 6 level, averaged 23 yards per catch on 44 receptions at Miami of Ohio, where he made first-team All-MAC. “He’s unguardable one-on-one,” Marion said.

Former Texas receiver DeAndre Moore, who started 18 games in three seasons with the Longhorns and caught 11 touchdowns, is probably the most polished receiver in the group.

The one major difference between what Marion had at Texas and what CU has now is at running back. “We don’t have a Bijan Robinson,” he said, “but we have guys that can definitely get the job done.”

The key to whether Sanders can get the Buffs back to being a bowl team — something that has happened only three times in the past 18 seasons — is whether they can get strong play from 18-year-old QB Julian Lewis, a four-star recruit who graduated high school a year early and struggled in limited action last season.

“JuJu is about at the same point where Quinn (Ewers) was at then (in his second year of college),” Marion said. “Obviously, he has to stay healthy but he reminds me of Quinn in terms of the arm talent and the personality. They’re very similar. He’s about 6-1, 185, not a big kid by any means. Moves well enough to get himself out of a jam, and he can make any throw. That dude has an NFL arm for sure. He can really throw the ball. We’ve seen him throw it off his back foot, where he couldn’t step up, and threw it 60 yards.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Georgia Tech to wear white for season opener against Colorado 

… Which means the Buffs could wear their classic black-and-gold … Advantage: CU … 

UPDATE: Georgia Tech has announced that the season opener against Colorado will be an official WHITEOUT!  … 

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July 14th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Brian Howell leaving the Daily Camera

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In-depth Coach Prime article in The Athletic: CU Ditching blue-chips for “hungry” transfers

From The Athletic … Deion Sanders sat quietly in the back of a makeshift office in the bowels of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, listening proudly as his players fielded questions about where Colorado football stands entering the 2026 season. The half-dozen players Sanders chose to send to the Big 12’s media days in Dallas earlier this month were an interesting mix: four transfers from programs ranging from Notre Dame to Northwest Missouri State; a former top-50 high school recruit Sanders had signed; and a defensive back who came to Colorado as a walk-on.

It was the walk-on, Colorado native Ben Finneseth, whose words seemed to best capture the Buffaloes’ message as Sanders enters his fourth year, following another program reboot after a 3-9 season. Finneseth, who arrived at CU in 2021, has actually been part of the Colorado program longer than Sanders. He was a Buffs team captain for their lone win in the miserable 1-11 2022 season that preceded Sanders’ hiring.

Sanders has leaned heavily on the transfer portal since arriving in Boulder in December 2022, but this time the Buffs have opted to pursue more players with extensive playing experience at all levels of college football. The portal moves — which The Athletic ranked as the nation’s No. 18 transfer class — along with new playcallers on both sides of the ball, have folks at Colorado convinced the program is back on the upswing.

Finneseth noted that many of the new Buffs didn’t come from “blueblood” programs or necessarily carry a Power 4 pedigree.

“What I saw from this spring is a lot of guys that want to prove that they can play at this level,” Finneseth said. “They’re hungry. We brought in guys that are pissed off  because they weren’t recruited out of high school. They came in with a competitiveness and a work ethic. The cohesive mindset of all the players is the biggest difference that we’ve had compared to last season.”

Sanders said the Buffs changed what they were looking for in the portal, placing more emphasis on leadership and on finding players who know how to bounce back from adversity.

The Buffs struggled mightily in 2025 after star QB Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy-winning two-way phenom Travis Hunter left for the NFL. Colorado had finished in the Top 25 a season earlier for only the second time in the previous two decades, but almost as quickly as it had come together, it appeared to fall apart.

The 58-year-old Sanders also wasn’t his usual self last year. After battling bladder cancer and undergoing surgery, the Pro Football Hall of Famer was frail when he appeared at last year’s Big 12 media days. Weeks later, he said he had to wear special shorts under his pants as his body adapted to a new bladder, adding that he “depends on Depends” and that “if you see a port-a-potty on the sideline, it is real.” Sanders hadn’t been around his team for three months last offseason and lacked the energy or spark that had enabled him to transform listless programs at Jackson State and CU into winners.

“I got that thang back, I got that swagger back, I got that dog back, I got that charisma back,” Sanders said. “I was 15 pounds down, but I’m now ready. I’m back, baby! I cannot wait to get back on that sideline. I’m excited about this season.”

The Buffs, who lost seven of their last eight games last year, ranked No. 115 in yards per play on offense and No. 118 in defense. In addition to adding more than 60 new players to the roster, Sanders also has a new offensive coordinator in former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion and a new defensive coordinator in Chris Marve, a former DC at Virginia Tech, with Sanders calling it the best coaching staff he’s ever had in his career.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 13th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Class action lawsuit filed in Colorado to challenge five-for-five NCAA eligibility rule

From ESPN … The NCAA is facing a federal class action lawsuit against its new eligibility rules.

Eleven Division I athletes, including Division I basketball standouts Cade Tyson and Brock Wisne, have filed a federal class action lawsuit in Colorado that alleges the NCAA’s new eligibility rules have adversely affected their ability to extend their college careers and the NIL benefits attached to that opportunity.

The NCAA recently announced an eligibility rule change that grants all athletes five years to compete, but it did not grant athletes who exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 campaign an additional season.

If successful, the federal lawsuit could essentially nullify the NCAA’s new eligibility rules for a massive pool of athletes across all sports who would then be allowed to enter the transfer portal and extend their careers.

With football season set to begin in a month, a ruling in favor of these athletes could alter the college landscape for the upcoming season. If it’s defeated, it could also signal a significant ruling in favor of the NCAA, which has faced numerous state lawsuits already regarding its new eligibility rules.

“These athletes aren’t asking for special treatment,” said Rob Shelquist, a partner at Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP, in a statement. “They’re asking to not be singled out and excluded from the NCAA’s eligibility framework. The NCAA updated the rules but refused to apply them only to the very group that was most immediately affected. If the NCAA has determined that five years of eligibility is the fair rule for college athletes, then athletes who would still be eligible but for completing four years of eligibility should not be deprived of the same educational, athletic, and NIL opportunities.”

Last week, an Ohio judge granted 24 men’s and women’s college basketball players a preliminary injunction to continue their college careers and enter the transfer portal after they’d been ruled ineligible by the NCAA after they alleged the NCAA’s new system unfairly impacts them.

After that decision, the NCAA’s Division I cabinet said “we do not intend to change course” in a statement posted on X.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 12th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Danny Scudero motivated by being left off All-Big 12 team: “I feel like I should have been on it”

From the Daily Camera … Considering he led the country in receiving yards and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award last year, Danny Scudero would figure to be on some preseason awards lists.

The Colorado star wasn’t, however, on the preseason All-Big 12 team.

Coming off a 3-9 season and with a plethora of newcomers, CU didn’t have any players on the preseason All-Big 12 team, which was announced Monday. Scudero might have had the best case to be included, despite the fact that his breakout season in 2025 came with San Jose State and not in the Big 12.

“Absolutely,” he said at Big 12 media days Tuesday at The Star. “Looking at that list and seeing who was on it, I mean, those guys totally deserve it. They’re really good receivers. Those guys totally deserve it. They’re great receivers.”

… “As a competitor and as somebody who played last year, I feel like I should have been on it,” Scudero said. “But, at the same time, it’s preseason and everybody knows you got to prove it during the season. So, I’m really excited to show what I can do and show the connections that we made over this season, and then really just see who else can be on those lists (from CU), because we got a lot of guys on this team that are very talented and have a very good mindset and work ethic. So, we’ll see where it goes.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 9th 

… CU in a few minutes …

Buff players try to shake off last place predictions: “It’s going to be a lot different by the end of the season”

From the Daily Camera … With a polite yet fully confident smile, Cree Thomas spoke about the outside expectations of the Colorado football team.

“I would say that we don’t care,” Thomas, a redshirt freshman cornerback for the Buffaloes, said at Big 12 media day in Frisco, Texas, on Tuesday. “We don’t care about what the media’s saying where we’re going to be ranked.”

Those outside expectations aren’t favorable for the Buffs, who are coming off a 3-9 season in 2025 (including 1-8 in the Big 12). The Big 12 didn’t conduct a preseason poll, but national publications have their projections. Athlon predicts a 14th-place finish for CU in the 16-team Big 12, while The Sporting News puts the Buffs 15th and Lindy’s 16th. Oddsmakers have CU’s over/under win total at just 4.5.

“I think all of those predictions and stuff, it’s going to be a lot different by the end of the season,” Thomas said.

Head coach Deion Sanders, Thomas and the other five players who represented CU this week in Frisco all carried a similar message that the Buffs are ready to prove doubters wrong.

Asked how his team could surprise everyone this year, Sanders said with a laugh, “We better win, that’s going to be the surprise. That’s the surprise, we better win. We’re going to win. I love what I got, I love what I see.”

Every year, teams show up to media day with that same level of confidence. They all go into the season believing they’ll be better than expected.

This year, CU’s confidence is rooted in the outside doubt — not just of the team, but of the individuals, as well.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 8th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Quarterback Julian Lewis: “Every time I get the opportunity to show why I’m here, I’m going to do that”

From the Daily Camera … Julian Lewis, now a redshirt freshman, described last year as “humbling” and “uncomfortable,” but as he prepares for this season, he’s looking forward to getting back in his comfort zone. Although battling with Utah transfer Isaac Wilson for the starting job, Lewis is CU’s projected starter for the 2026 campaign, which kicks off Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech.

“I think just my understanding of college football, a lot more comfortable,” Lewis said Tuesday at Big 12 media day, as one of six players representing the Buffs. “I feel like when I got in last year I wasn’t very nervous or anything like that. I think God put me in this position for a reason, and I think just every time I get the opportunity to show why I’m here, I’m going to do that.”

Lewis played briefly in game two against Delaware on Sept. 6 and didn’t see the field again until game nine against Arizona on Nov. 1. Eventually, Salter was benched and Lewis started two games in November. For the season, he completed 55.3% of his passes for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

“It was definitely an experience, for sure,” Lewis said. “I think it was good. It was humbling, for sure. Just having to sit around and watch football games you feel like you can make an impact in was probably the worst part, just watching; watch your team lose from the sideline didn’t feel right.”

CU finished 3-9, including 1-8 in the Big 12, and Lewis is aiming to change that.

“The season was just unsuccessful,” he said. “I mean, it wasn’t our goal, of course. I didn’t play much going into the beginning of the season. I had my opportunity to play and I still didn’t come out victorious, so I wouldn’t call them successful games or anything like that. So just coming into this season ready to win.

“I don’t think it felt right for any of us losing games, of course, but it felt even worse feeling like I could help the team and not doing that, just not playing or anything like that. So, just the opportunity to start off this season, I mean, it’s nothing but winning on my mind.”

… Continue reading story here …

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July 7th

… CU in a few minutes … 

**Complete Transcript: Coach Prime Press Conference at Big 12 Media Days**

“First and foremost, you know we [the Big 12] have the best commissioner. Where you at, my man? We got the best commissioner in the world, and he’s definitely the best-dressed commissioner ever. I love him to life, and he always raises the bar, and he’s infectious. Every time I see him, I have to hug him and appreciate who he is and what he does.”

“And our [athletic director], Fernando [Lovo], is around here somewhere as well. He’s been doing a heck of a job. He’s just taking the reins, taking the baton from a dear friend of mine, Rick George, and you talk about a sprinter. He has sprinted and has been more than expected. And Fernando, you’re doing a heck of a job. I love you to life, and keep up the great work.”

“We’ve lost the young man, Dominiq Ponder. We miss him dearly. Prayers go out to his family, who we’re in contact with on a daily basis. We will wear a patch on our jerseys this season in his honor and his legacy. [His legacy] should encourage kids to make responsible choices and have those hard and tough conversations.”

“Adam Munsterteiger, his beautiful, wonderful wife is here. Please, please, can we give her love and support and respect? Love her, [Adam] passed away on May 19. And I want to thank the Big 12 for reserving his seat for him today. We will hold his seat both in press conferences and in the press box in honor of him this season. His wonderful wife, Liz, I love you so much. And thank you. Your strength encourages all, and whatever you need from us, the Buffs this year, you got it. He’s covered CU for over 20 years, for the Buff Stampede.”

“CU coaching staff, 250 years of coaching experience, 172 years of college, 106 years at the Power Four level, five coaches who served as a head coach at some level…51 years of high school experience. This is all to say we’re pretty good. We’re pretty darn good.”

“Okay, roster breakdown: 104 [total players], 83 scholarships, 21 walk-ons. I love my walk-ons. How many of you cried at the movie Rudy? I did. I’m sorry, I did. When Rudy got in, it was over for me. That was it. So I love my walk-ons dearly. I think two or three [players] on the roster who were walk-ons; they’re on scholarship right now. We hope to continue that as well.”

“We had a 3.0 GPA this spring, the highest GPA in CU history. Right now we have 3.035, which is wonderful.”

“We have over double digits in young men on our roster who were captains on their respective teams, and they’re with us now. So we have a tremendous amount of leadership.”

On Colorado Buffaloes Snubbed From Preseason All-Big 12 Team:

“We don’t care about what people say. People are always going to have an opinion. If my kids and my coaches and our staff don’t understand who they are, we have a problem. They’re not going to allow you to identify who we are, and just because our guys were snubbed off a poll that’s probably not going to be consistent with the end of the season, we don’t give a darn. Our kids know who, what, when, where, and how they are, and they know what they’ve got to do and how they’ve got to work. It just gives them that extra inside of them, and I’m thankful and appreciative of that.”

Absence From College Football Video Game for Third Straight Year:

“I don’t know about the video games. I have a wonderful team that handles a lot of business for me. If I’m not in the game, that means they weren’t paying enough. It didn’t fit where we’re going right now. That’s probably it. It was probably that simplistic.”

How Coaching at Colorado has Impacted Deion Sanders as a Person:

“I don’t think Colorado has transformed me. Colorado has given me a tremendous opportunity that I’m so darn appreciative of, and I want to live up and surpass the expectations. My younger self would be proud that I was here last year fighting a battle called cancer, and now I’m here with full strength, full energy. I got that thing back, I got that swagger back, I got that dog back, I got that charisma back.”

“See, last year I had on shorts up on under the suit, I had on a sweat suit on under the suit, because I was probably 15 pounds down, looking like Eddie Kane up here, and those of you that see the Five Heartbeats, but now I’m ready, I’m back, I’m trying, I’m close to 204 [pounds], I’m back, baby, like, like I cannot wait. I cannot wait to get back on that sideline and do our thing. I can’t wait to get back to camp. I can’t wait to get back in. I ain’t even seen the kids yet that are here. I can’t wait to even see them, because I know they’re looking good in our uniforms, but I’m excited about this season and the expectations thereof.”

Deion Sanders on Tough Big 12 Schedule:

“Well, let’s digress a bit and think about Georgia Tech. Let’s think about going to Atlanta and handling our business on Thursday nights in front of the whole world, and that being our stage. We’re going to take one game at a time, and I’m not thinking about those two games as further down the road. We’re thinking about that first one.”

“First of all, we think about going to camp and having a wonderful camp and getting it on and [pressurizing] our coordinators and our team in certain situations because with coach Brendan Marion and Coach [Chris] Marve, this is the best coaching staff that I’ve had in my new coaching career, and I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the young men. I’m excited about everything that we have on this roster, because I feel like we have the team to win, and I cannot wait to see it.”

Approaching Leadership After the Buffaloes Struggled With It In 2025:

“I’m thankful that God didn’t allow my neck to go all the way back and look back, because that would be in tremendous pain right now, and I’m thankful that I look ahead and I’m right on point. But the young men, they’re close, they’re close. Some of them weren’t even here last year, so I don’t think the collective would have that opinion.”

“Maybe a couple of them that were here they’re pretty accurate, but I’m loving everything I’ve seen in the spring. I’m loving everything that we’ve added. I’m loving what we did in the portal. I’m loving what we’re doing recruiting-wise right now. We’re right where we want to be, and we’re going to even get better.”

What the New World of College Football Has Taught Deion Sanders:

“As a coach, patience. It has taught me tremendous patience. It’s taught me that a lot of young men want to benefit from the game financially. A lot of young men want to benefit from the game because they love the game, and you’ve got to really understand there are two sides of this coin, and make sure you’re flipping these kids on the right side, because it’s a whole different game, and sometimes you can’t get stuck in the old ways.”

“You gotta go forward and welcome and invite some of the new school ways and adapt to them. Thank God, I got kids. I got five of them to keep me on my toes, keep me on my game, and keep me hip to what’s coming and what’s going on right now. So I’m thankful for that. And I got a little grandson; he can’t really talk right now, but he can ask. So I’m thankful that they’re keeping me on point.”

Being Unapologetic About His Faith:

“You’re rock steady, because you guys [the media] flip and flip, and you blow with the wind, and you ride the waves that you’re supposed to ride, and I understand that. You’ve got to understand that I’ve been up here and I’ve been out there, so I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t know what I’m thinking.”

“So I understand life, and I understand the trials and tribulations of life, but I have a God who’s been so darn good to me. I can’t help but acknowledge Him and praise Him every opportunity I get, and I don’t allow anyone out there to tell me who I am or what I am. I have a God that has shown me all of that, and that’s why I embrace it, and that’s why I’m never going to stop praising him and talking about him tremendously.”

Something Deion Sanders believes Will Surprise People About the Buffaloes in 2026:

“We better win. That’s gonna be the surprise. That’s the surprise. We’d better win. We’re gonna win.”

Deion Sanders’s Thoughts on His Leadership Retreat:

“We had a good time: the young men, the coaches, the staff. We had a great time. We really did, and we got closer, we bonded, and I loved every last minute of it. I could not wait till they left, but I loved every last minute, you know. You know, I’m old school. You got three days in my house, you got to go. Jesus got up on the third day; you could get up too. Okay, so you’ve got to go.”

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July 2nd 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU season tickets renewals down, though still well above any pre-Prime season since 2014

From the Daily Camera … For the first time in the Coach Prime era, Colorado is not expected to sell out of season tickets for football, and the renewal rate is down.

However, the Buffaloes are continuing to sell more season tickets than they did before Deion Sanders was hired as head coach in December of 2022.

Per numbers provided to BuffZone by CU, the Buffs had sold 20,284 season tickets for the upcoming campaign as of Tuesday afternoon.

Last year, CU sold 23,987 season tickets. With the Buffs coming off a 3-9 season in 2025, only 78.3% of last year’s season ticket holders have chosen to renew for this year, down from a 98% renewal rate each of the previous three years.

Although the numbers are down, CU is expecting to surpass the amount of season tickets sold in Sanders’ first season in Boulder, 2023, when 20,606 were sold. According to CU spokesperson Steve Hurlbert, the Buffs expect to land somewhere between that number and the amount sold in 2024 (21,128).

Last year, CU increased the amount of season tickets available by nearly 3,000, which accounted for a spike in sales from 2023 and 2024.

Overall, CU is continuing to sell more season tickets than it did before Sanders came to Boulder.

Prior to 2023, CU had not reached the 20,000 mark in season ticket sales since 2012, when 21,648 were sold. In 2022, the last season before Sanders’ arrival, CU sold just 14,915 season tickets.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 29th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime’s “Cancer Free” article from ESPN 

From ESPN … Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders said he feels like his old — and younger — self again a year after undergoing surgery to remove his cancerous bladder.

“I consider myself cancer-free,” thanks to robotic surgery that also reconstructed the bladder using part of an intestine, Sanders told The Associated Press after getting a tutorial in the surgical system that was used in his operation.

This being Men’s Health Awareness Month, the University of Colorado football coach wanted to get a firsthand look at the Intuitive Da Vinci robotic system, which is less invasive than open surgeries and cuts down on hospital stays and speeds recoveries.

“I was fighting” last year at this time, Sanders recalled. “I was walking out on the property with a bag of blood and also urine and trying to get back. But this expedited the process. Last year at this time, I was in a whole different place, and I’m just thankful.”

Sanders missed football camps last summer in Boulder as he went through cancer treatments. The Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 mark a year after making a bowl game behind Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

This summer, he appears much fitter and more energetic as he oversees offseason training.

“If I pull my shirt up, I’m not scarred. It’s not flawed. I’m not embarrassed by anything that transpired. I’m elated by everything that transpired,” Sanders said.

At a routine checkup last spring, a CT scan showed a mass on Sanders’ bladder. He was referred to the University of Colorado Anschutz, where he met Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urologic oncology at the CU Cancer Center and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

Sanders, who turns 59 later this summer, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor. Although the tumor hadn’t reached the muscle layer in his bladder, it was considered “very high risk” with a 50-50 chance of recurring or progressing after treatments.

Kukreja is among the small group of surgeons in the U.S. who perform robotic removal of the entire cancerous bladder — called a radical cystectomy — and robotic reconstruction of the organ, which involves having a section of intestine function as a bladder.

“It got me back in the game, got me back on my feet and got me out of the darn hospital and back into the normalcy of my life,” Sanders said. “I’m here to let people know there’s another option if you need surgery.”

He called the robotic system his time machine.

“I’d be a fool to be blessed the way I was blessed and not sound alarms,” Sanders said. “When I opened up a club years ago I went to the mountaintop and told all the stations, ‘Come on to the nightclub.’ So, why wouldn’t I do this? Saved me time so I could get back on the field, get back on my game instead of sitting up there in the hospital having a pity party. It saves you time. That’s what we’re all fighting for is time. We never know how much we get.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime getting two new silicone toes: “I’m just trying to fill my shoe up”

From YahooSports.com … Colorado football coach Deion Sanders is getting two new toes to fill out his troubled left foot.

He recently was measured for a silicone product that would essentially fill out his foot where his two biggest toes were amputated in 2021, according to a video June 24 on the YouTube channel of his oldest son Deion Jr. The video was entitled “Coach Prime IS GETTING NEW TOES.”

“I need toes,” Sanders said in the video. “I want it to fit my shoes properly.”

Sanders said this as he was visited at his office in Boulder by a woman showing him prosthetic and orthotic products from medical device company Össur.

By wearing such products, he would essentially have two new fake toes to support the side of his foot that is supposed to bear half or more of his weight. This could help with his balance, alignment and gait.

“The primary complaint though is it just feels really heavy like a boot,” Colorado athletic trainer Lauren Askevold explained to the woman about Sanders’ foot.

The woman said the products could be designed to match skin tone and even scars. She scanned his feet and said the product takes about eight weeks to fabricate.

“OK, well, I’ll proceed,” Sanders said at the end of the video. It also might help him better enjoy his massive shoe collection.

“I’m just trying to fill my shoe up,” Sanders explained.

… Read full story here …

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June 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Freshman linebacker Rodney Colton wants to make plays: “I can do anything you tell me to do”

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado Buffaloes freshman linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. wanted something different.

The freshman linebacker from Newnan, Ga., had options during the recruiting process, but Colorado offered more than a chance to play college football. It offered distance, growth and a fresh start.

“I wanted to get away from home,” Colton said. “I wanted to go far and see how it was. Colorado was a good fit. Being recruited by [Assistant Linebackers] Coach [Andre’] Hart and the defensive staff they all showed me love, open arms, brought me in and I just got to it.”

For Colton, the decision was not about chasing the most glamorous name. It was about finding the right fit.

“Some kids don’t look at that in recruiting,” Colton said. “They like the glamorous stuff, …who won the national championship. No, it was a great fit for me. So, I came here, hopefully show my talents and work out.”

Colton arrived in Boulder as a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker with a productive high school résumé. A three-star prospect by the recruiting services, he was listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN, which ranked him as the No. 23 linebacker in the nation and the No. 36 player from Georgia.

At Newnan High School in Newnan, a small town south of Atlanta, Colton played four varsity seasons under head coach Chip Walker and developed into one of the program’s most productive defensive players. He finished his prep career with 157 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, five forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries, three interceptions, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

As a senior, he helped lead Newnan to a 9-3 record and the second round of the Georgia Class 5A playoffs. He finished the season with 57 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three defensive touchdowns, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

His junior season followed a similar path, as Newnan again went 9-3 and reached the second round of the playoffs. Colton recorded 51 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble that season.

The numbers show production. Colton believes his game is built on versatility.

“I can do anything you tell me to do,” Colton said. “If I’m coming off the edge, blitzing the gap, dropping in coverage, if I even have to hop out in space a little bit. I’m versatile.”

He takes pride in more than making tackles. At linebacker, Colton understands the position requires communication, command and trust.

“Just making sure everybody is lined up right and getting the call,” Colton said. “I want to make plays, but I feel like everybody else wants to make plays, too. Just having everybody lined up right, we all want to make plays.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 18th

... CU in a few minutes … 

CU Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson showing “encouraging improvement” 

From 9News.com … Olympic bronze medalist and world champion 1,500-meter runner Jenny Simpson is showing “encouraging improvement” after she experienced a medical emergency and collapsed while pacing a mile group at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday night.

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June 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Olympic medalist Jenny Simpson hospitalized after collapsing on a track in North Carolina

From the Daily Camera … Olympic bronze medalist and world champion 1,500-meter runner Jenny Simpson collapsed after suffering a medical episode while pacing a mile group at an event in Raleigh on Tuesday night.

Simpson underwent CPR at the track and an automated external defibrillator was also used before taking her to the hospital. LetsRun.com was the first to report the medical emergency.

The 39-year-old Simpson was taking part in a community track event hosted by Sir Walter Running, with runners of all levels encouraged to attend. The event featured a chance to meet Simpson.

“We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency, and professionalism,” the “Sir Walter Running Team” wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.

The statement added that “Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time.”

Simpson won the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She also won the 1,500 at the 2011 world championships, along with silver medals in 2013 and 2017.

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June 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Strength of Schedule: CU has 6th most-difficult in the Big 12 (44th nationally)

From FBSchedules.com … There are several ways to measure college football strength of schedule, and one of the most common is the straightforward win/loss method, used on the NCAA’s official website.

As the name suggests, the win/loss method evaluates schedule difficulty strictly through wins and losses. When projecting future seasons—before any games are played—the metric relies entirely on each team’s opponents’ records from the previous year.

By this measure, North Carolina enters 2026 with the nation’s toughest schedule, while Buffalo draws the easiest. Indiana, the reigning national champion, checks in with the 11th‑toughest slate.

Conference‑wise, the Big Ten leads the field with four teams in the Top 10, followed by the Big 12 with three, the ACC with two, and the SEC with one. Top‑10 teams by conference include:

• Big Ten: Ohio State (2), Nebraska (4), Michigan (6), Northwestern (6)
• Big 12: Baylor (8), West Virginia (8), Arizona (10)
• ACC: North Carolina (1), Stanford (3)
• SEC: Mississippi State (5)

Below are the teams with the toughest schedules in each conference in 2026 using the win/loss method (overall rank in parentheses):

• ACC – North Carolina (1)
• American – Charlotte (20)
• Big 12 – Baylor (8)
• Big Ten – Ohio State (2)
• CUSA – Missouri State (54)
• Independent – Notre Dame (112)
• MAC – Bowling Green (60)
• MWC – Air Force (67)
• Pac-12 – Oregon State (21)
• SEC – Mississippi State (5)
• Sun Belt – Southern Miss (37)

From the Big 12 … 

8. Baylor: 95-59 (61.7%)
8. West Virginia: 95-59 (61.7%)
10. Arizona: 94-59 (61.4%)
17. Cincinnati: 91-62 (59.5%)
27. TCU: 87-64 (57.6%)
44. Colorado: 85-67 (55.9%)
52. BYU: 81-68 (54.4%)
53. Arizona St: 82-69 (54.3%)
59. Kansas St: 82-70 (53.9%)
74. Oklahoma St: 79-72 (52.3%)
74. Utah: 79-72 (52.3%)
82. Kansas: 78-72 (52.0%)
85. Iowa St: 77-73 (51.3%)
90. UCF: 76-74 (50.7%)
128. Texas Tech: 69-82 (45.7%)
134. Houston: 65-84 (43.6%)

… Read full story here …

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June 12th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Report: Colorado lost $1.24 million on 2024 Alamo Bowl

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s lone bowl appearance in the past five years was a costly one.

An internal audit by the University of Colorado shows that the Buffaloes lost roughly $1.24 million for their trip to the 2024 Alamo Bowl. USA Today first reported on the audit, which was dated June 4, 2026.

The audit found that CU overpaid head coach Deion Sanders and his assistants for postseason bonuses; misclassified the Alamo Bowl as a Tier 1 event rather than a Tier 2 event; and didn’t have a budget for the game to control spending.

CU had roughly $4.21 million in expenses for its trip to the Alamo Bowl, a 36-14 loss to BYU on Dec. 28, 2024, in San Antonio. The Buffs made $2.97 million in revenue, for a loss of nearly $1.24 million.

“While we did not identify intentional misconduct, we concluded that governance and control improvements for postseason athletic events are strongly recommended, resulting in an overall report rating of Significant Improvements Needed,” the report read. “We noted inconsistent application of policies; outdated, contradictory, or incomplete guidance; inadequate documentation and approval practices; and limited coordination among administrative offices for a high-visibility, resource-intensive postseason event.”

It is common for schools to lose money on bowl appearances. LSU, for example, lost roughly $1.28 million for its trip to the Reliaquest Bowl in 2023, according to a report by the Action Network. That same report showed that Wyoming lost $1.23 million for its trip to the 2023 Arizona Bowl and Tennessee lost $1.21 million for its 2023 trip to the Citrus Bowl.

CU, however, said it will use the audit to improve on its budgeting for future bowl appearances. CU has appeared in just three bowl games in the past 18 seasons, all three at the Alamo Bowl, in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

“Reviews such as these are valuable tools for CU Athletics to identify areas and processes that are working as well as opportunities for improvement,” CU athletics said in a statement provided to the Daily Camera. “The findings of this audit are indicative of the excitement of the Athletic Department and university for making a bowl game while providing essential feedback for how we can improve our preexisting processes and implement new policies that will help us reflect best practices in the future.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime announces that he is cancer-free

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders announced that he’s officially cancer-free after being diagnosed with bladder cancer in April of 2025. “I’m cancer-free. I’m good. Great doctors in Colorado that has brought me through. God has brought me through. I’m thankful. I’m healthy.”

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June 8th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Statement from CU athletic director Fernando Lovo … 

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June 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Has CU sufficiently shored up its porous defensive line? 

… FWIW … Athlon’s answer would be “no”. In ranking the Big 12’s defensive line units, the Buffs came in at No. 16 … 

From the Daily Camera … Overall, the Buffs last season ranked 13th in the Big 12 in points allowed (30.5 per game) and last in yards allowed (425.7 per game). Nationally, CU was 135th out of 136 FBS teams in rushing defense, giving up 222.5 yards per game on the ground.

Led by new defensive coordinator Chris Marve and 29 transfers, the Buffs are hoping to be a much better unit this year, with Marve setting the tone in the spring.

“We’ve made it crystal clear who we want to be and how we want to do things,” he said. “We want to be violent and aggressive. We’ve defined and gave visible examples of what being violent and aggressive looks like. We want to play extremely fast. So, that’s on the players to be aggressive to the ball, but also on the coaches, specifically me, in terms of making sure we don’t call things or do things that slow them down. We have to play smart, can’t beat yourself.”

As Marve looks to establish those standards, here’s a position-by-position look at the defense and special teams:

Defensive line

Scholarship: Malachi Brown, 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, Jr.; Ezra Christensen, 6-2, 280, Sr.; Santana Hopper, 6-2, 265, Sr.; Dylan Manuel, 6-1, 300, Jr.; Josiah Manu, 6-5, 295, Fr.; Tyler Moore, 6-0, 290, Jr.; Sedrick Smith, 6-4, 320, Jr.; Samu Taumanupepe, 6-3, 375, Jr.; Quency Wiggins, 6-5, 255, Sr.

Walk-ons: None

Outlook: The only player in this room who was with the Buffs last year is Wiggins, who was a defensive end in 2025. He has since bulked up to move inside and could be a key player on the line. Hopper was first-team all-conference at his previous two schools (Tulane and Appalachian State) and had a great spring for the Buffs. Manuel had a good year at App State a year ago and played well in spring. Moore, Smith and Taumanupepe are all aiming for key roles after playing as backups in previous stops. Brown was a late addition from the junior college ranks and brings size and experience. Manu, a Thompson Valley High School graduate, was brought in as an offensive lineman but moved to defense in the spring. He could be counted on for depth. Christensen was first-team All-Conference USA last year at New Mexico State and has the potential to be a starter for the Buffs, but as a former JUCO player he needs a court ruling to gain an extra year of eligibility, so his status is unclear.

Defensive end

Scholarship: Toby Anene, 6-4, 260, Sr.; Immanuel Ezeogu, 6-1, 239, So.; Sam Gadie, 6-3, 235, Jr.; Balansama Kamara, 6-3, 257, Sr.; Lamont Lester Jr., 6-2, 230, So.; Domata Peko Jr., 6-4, 235, Jr.; Kylan Salter, 6-2, 230, Jr.; Yamil Talib, 6-2, 240, So.; Vili Taufatofua, 6-3, 259, Sr.

Walk-ons: None

Outlook: There is plenty of talent here, which should allow the Buffs to improve upon their 13 sacks from a year ago (which tied for 14th in the Big 12). Anene, Kamara, Lester and Taufatofua all earned all-conference recognition last year at previous schools and they played well in spring. Salter, the lone returner from last year, moved from inside linebacker and made some plays in the spring game. Peko Jr. missed the spring with injury but has good potential to help. Gadie, who is a summer addition, Ezeogu and Talib provide good depth.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 5th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime Interview: In favor of 24-team playoff; Praises his “best coaching staff ever”

From From Office Sports News …

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June 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU skill positions: Deeper rooms, but new Buffs still have a lot to prove

From the Daily Camera … Led by new coordinator Brennan Marion, the Colorado offense will have a much different look this year.

Marion’s Go-Go offense is unique compared to offenses employed by the Buffs in the past. That won’t be the only difference for the Buffs, however.

While the Buffaloes’ offense does feature more returning experience than the defense, there will still be a lot of newcomers asked to make plays this season, especially at quarterback.

There are also going to be a host of new playmakers at running back and receiver, and potentially five new starters on the offensive line.

Running back

Scholarship: Damian Henderson II, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Cam Newton, 5-9 185, Fr.; Jaquail Smith, 5-11, 170, So.; DeKalon Taylor, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Micah Welch, 5-9, 215, Jr.; Richard Young, 5-11, 212, Jr.

Walk-on: Titus Bautista, 5-10, 185, So.; Bryce Hicks, 5-9, 185, So.; Cody Jordan, 5-10, 185, Fr.; Leonardo Valle, 6-1, 210, Fr.

Outlook: It’s a deep group, but still with a lot to prove. Welch made eight starts for CU last year and led the Buffs in rushing yards (384), and Taylor had a productive start to the 2025 season before injury. They’ll both be pushed, however, by transfers. Henderson and Smith both rushed for more than 500 yards at Sacramento State last year, while Young is a former four-star recruit who comes to CU from Alabama. Newton joins the herd this summer after a highly productive prep career.

Receiver

Scholarship: Ernest Campbell, 5-9, 145, So.; Quanell Farrakhan Jr., 6-1, 180, So.; Quentin Gibson, 5-9, 155, So.; DeAndre Moore, 6-0, 192, Sr.; Kam Perry, 5-9, 154, Sr.; Danny Scudero, 5-9, 174, Jr.; Jacob Swain, 6-1, 185, Fr.; Alexander Ward, 6-1, 180, Fr.; Christian Ward, 6-3, 205, Fr.; Hykeem Williams, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Joseph Williams, 6-2, 200, Jr.

Walk-on: Tagert Bardin, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Kaleb Mathis, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Carson Westbrook, 5-11, 170, So.

Outlook: Scudero had an exceptional spring, coming to CU after playing at San Jose State last year and leading the country with 1,291 receiving yards. He’s going to get the ball a lot, but the Buffs have a lot of talent. Two of the best receivers — Moore and Joseph Williams — missed all of spring with injuries, but they combined for 1,000 yards last year, with Moore having 532 at Texas and Williams 489 for the Buffs. Campbell and Perry have exceptional speed and put up big numbers last year — Campbell with 755 yards at Sacramento State and Perry with 976 yards at Miami-Ohio. Hykeem Williams, Farrakhan and Gibson are all returning Buffs will tremendous potential. The three true freshmen — Swin, and the Ward brothers — have potential, too, but might be a year away from producing.

… Read full story here …

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June 3rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Nick Saban to Congress: Protect College Sports Act “isn’t perfect”, but needs to be passed

From ESPN … Former Alabama coach Nick Saban faced several United States senators Wednesday morning in a historic hearing on Capitol Hill and pleaded for Congress to “bring order to a system that badly needs fixing” in the NIL and transfer portal era.

“Congress does not need to micromanage college athletics,” Saban said in a nearly packed room during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing. “Congress does need to fix the mess in the courts and create a national framework so the people inside college sports can enforce fair rules. Without that legal certainty, every rule becomes another lawsuit, every standard becomes another risk, and the system keeps drifting toward a professional model.”

Saban testified his support for the Protect College Sports Act, along with Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould, West Virginia president Gordon Gee and Utah defensive end Lance Holtzclaw. While Holtzclaw provided a player’s perspective on agents, the portal and coaching changes, the athletic leaders spoke with a sense of urgency and warned of dire consequences like more Olympic sports being cut if federal legislation isn’t passed soon.

“We’ve seen the data,” Gould said. “The threats are real.”

The Protect College Sports Act, written after months of negotiation between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), would provide the NCAA with an antitrust exemption to enforce several rules that have been challenged in court in recent years. Those rules would include:

• Limiting athletes to transferring schools only one time without penalty;

• Limiting athlete eligibility to a maximum of five years;

• Prohibiting former professional athletes from playing in college;

• Prohibiting schools from poaching a coach from another school during their sport’s season (Cruz called this the “Lane Kiffin rule,” referring to LSU’s hiring of Kiffin from Ole Miss in November.)

Saban said the bill “isn’t perfect and I’m sure many, many adjustments need to be made,” but he still supports it.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU’s Fernando Lovo named one of the country’s top athletic directors

Press release from CUBuffs.com … With just five months as Director of Athletics under his belt, Colorado’s Fernando Lovo is already garnering national recognition.  Silver Waves Media has named Lovo one of their top Athletic Directors in America, as selected by a committee of approximately 20 people that includes search firm representatives, other Athletic Directors, and industry professionals.

Those who made the list were selected for their exceptional leadership, vision, and a dedication to elevating the student-athlete experience. According to Silver Waves Media, whether overseeing established athletic departments or building programs from the ground up, those selected as top ADs in America play a critical role in shaping the culture, success, and future of athletics within their schools and communities. Through innovation, integrity, and a commitment to excellence, they continue to set the standard for athletic leadership while creating lasting opportunities for the next generation of athletes.

Under Lovo’s stewardship, CU Athletics has already recorded a number of superlatives in a short period of time. The Buffs set a record in the classroom by earning their highest Spring semester GPA in history with a mark of 3.275 with 27 student-athletes recording a 4.0.  In competition, the women’s lacrosse team reached the Elite Eight for the first time in program history, taking eventual national champion Northwestern to the wire on their home field before succumbing in double-overtime.  Lovo has also been busy locking down some of the department’s most successful coaches, signing women’s basketball coach J.R. Payne, women’s soccer coach Danny Sanchez, and head ski coach Jana Weinberger to contract extensions.

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June 1st

… CU in a few minutes … 

Offensive lineman Joe Garten on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

From the Daily Camera … Throughout his time at the University of Colorado, Joe Garten was one of the best linemen in program history.

His success in Boulder has also been recognized nationally. On Monday, the National Football Foundation released the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2027 and it includes Garten.

This year’s ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, as well as 99 players and 39 coaches from the divisional levels.

Garten is on the ballot for the fifth time, but for the first time in four years. He was also on the ballot for the 2011, 2012, 2022 and 2023 classes.

Garten was a guard at CU from 1987-90, playing a key role in the Buffaloes’ only national title in 1990. He was a two-time first-team All-American, including as a unanimous choice in 1990. A member of two Big Eight championship teams, Garten was runner-up for the Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s best interior lineman, in 1990.

There are 10 former CU players in the Hall of Fame, with Garten’s former teammate, cornerback Deon Figures, being the most recent inductee, in 2024.

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May 31st

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rick George on entering final month as CU’s AD: “I try to be here every day and working with Fernando as he sees fit”

From the Daily Camera … There are many days when Rick George spends a large chunk of his time driving to youth sporting events.

The outgoing athletic director of the Colorado Buffaloes wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m spending a lot of time with the family and particularly (granddaughters) Harper and Maddie and watching them play flag football and basketball and soccer and volleyball,” George said. “I’m in my car a lot. I feel like I’m a young parent where I’m around watching our grandkids play.”

That’s exactly what George envisioned in November when he announced a decision to step away from his role as athletic director, effective at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

At 66 years old, and with more than four decades working in the sports industry, George was ready for something new — and for more time with the family.

It was not, however, a retirement announcement. George still has a lot of energy and he has enjoyed the transition to a role as special advisor to the chancellor and director of athletics emeritus.

Since George’s replacement, Fernando Lovo, was hired five months ago, the two have worked together through the transition period, with George deferring to Lovo. As he steps full-time into his new role, George is looking forward to continuing to work with Lovo.

“I try to be here every day and working with Fernando as he sees fit,” George said. “We’ve really been focused on some donors and corporate partnerships and stuff like that. And I’m really here for him when he needs me, and he bounces things off me. We have a really strong relationship. I think he is going to do really well.”

… Continue reading story here …

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May 30th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Big 12 first conference to fully sign on to College Sports Commission

From ESPN … The Big 12 is becoming the first Power Four conference to have each of its members sign participation agreements with the College Sports Commission, the agency formed last year to police name, image and likeness payments.

“The Big 12 wants rules and enforcements, and we want to be a leader in that area,” commissioner Brett Yormark said Friday after the league wrapped up four days of annual meetings. “I think signing the participation agreement certainly is indicative of that.”

The agreement requires schools to waive their right to file lawsuits against the enforcement agency and gives it wide latitude to sanction programs for violating rules that outline how players can be paid after the House settlement last year.

But all 68 Power Four schools must sign the 11-page document for it to become valid. All schools had initially been asked to review and sign the document by last December.

“I can’t speak for the other conferences. I mean, obviously they all say they want rules and enforcement, but they haven’t signed the participation agreement,” Yormark said.

Richard Linton, president of Kansas State, said the Big 12 board of directors — composed of the presidents and chancellors from the league’s 16 schools — unanimously agreed to sign the document.

Yormark said the league expected to have all the signatures by early next week.

The document outlines rules that have been established since the House settlement was approved last summer — for instance, about the salary cap and the CSC’s role in analyzing third-party name, image and likeness deals through its NIL Go platform.

Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the CSC, addressed Big 12 members and league officials this week during their meetings in North Texas.

The CSC says it has cleared more than 26,000 NIL deals worth some $242.3 million through May 1 since its launch.

Yormark said he was on a call earlier Friday with the CSC and other conference commissioners.

“Like any startup, and the CSC is a startup, not even 12 months old, you have to think about what’s working and what’s not and what are the necessary adjustments both short term and long term that we should be considering,” Yormark said. “And we’re going to dive into that a little bit more in the coming weeks to determine what that might look like. … But I’m bullish on the direction of the CSC.”

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May 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Texas Tech challenges Texas to a Game One duel: “Come to Lubbock and figure out if their twos and threes can win”

From CBS Sports … Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire challenged Texas and Steve Sarkisian to schedule the Red Raiders in Week 1 after Sarkisian’s disparaging comments about Texas Tech’s schedule.

The Longhorns and Red Raiders both have Week 1 games scheduled against Texas State and Abilene Christian, respectively. However, McGuire — a former Texas high school coach — said that he’s already spoken to Keith Patterson at ACU and GJ Kinne at Texas State, and both were willing to buy out of their games and play each other instead.

“We’re willing to buy our contract out of ACU,” McGuire said. “I’m sure because Texas has got a lot of money, they can buy their contract out, but I do know there’s a lot of Red Raiders that could help them buy that contract out if they don’t want to, and they can come to Lubbock in Week 1 and figure out if their twos and threes can win this conference.”

“I do know that [megabooster] Cody Campbell reached out to Stephen Jones, so if they don’t want to come to Lubbock, then we’re going to work on trying to get to AT&T Stadium,” McGuire said. “So if they want to play Week 1, we’re ready. We would love to play the University of Texas.”

Sarkisian was asked about strength-of-schedule ratings by a fan at the Touchdown Club in Houston last week. Multiple figures in the SEC have complained about the committee not respecting strength of schedule enough after the 9-3 Longhorns were left out of the CFP.

“There’s a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if I played with our twos and our threes, we could go undefeated, and they’ll probably make the CFP this year,” Sarkisian said.

McGuire asked a staff member to pull up Sarkisian’s remarks after seeing them on social media to make sure that he had all the context.

“There’s no way they’re talking us because Sark’s a pretty tough guy, his teams are really tough, and I would think that if he was talking about us, he would call us out, right?” McGuire said. “Like he wouldn’t just say this kind of comment of, well, there’s another team in our state. Well, I guess he was talking about us.”

… Continue reading story here …

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May 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU kickoff times set for home opener against Weber State; road trip to Northwestern 

Press release from the Big 12 … Alongside its television partners ESPN, FOX and TNT Sports, the Big 12 Conference has announced its football selections and designations for the first three weeks of the season, and additional later games, across linear and streaming platforms. In addition to the Big 12’s previously announced television selections, the Conference will have 22 games on linear distribution through the first three weeks of the season, which includes 10 games versus Power Four opponents.

The season begins with the Big 12’s lone Week Zero game with TCU facing North Carolina in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, August 29, airing at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

Conference match-ups in the early selections include the Union Jack Classic between Arizona State and Kansas on Saturday, September 19, slated for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on FS1 kickoff from Wembley Stadium in London. Arizona and BYU will meet in Provo, Utah on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m. CT on FOX, joining the previously-announced Houston-Texas Tech game on FOX in Week Three.

Bookending the regular season will be the 2026 Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday, December 4, which is slated for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC.

The remainder of the season’s television selections will be announced on a 12-day or six-day notice via Big12Sports.com and the Conference’s official digital platforms.

A complete list of today’s announced games is below with all times listed are CT.

Thursday, September 3
Bethune-Cookman at UCF at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Idaho at Utah at 8 p.m. on ESPNU at 8 p.m. on ESPNU

Friday, September 4
LIU at Kansas at 7 p.m. on ESPNU

Saturday, September 5
Oregon State at Houston at 11 a.m. on ESPN
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia at 11 a.m. on TNT & HBO Max
Southeast Missouri at Iowa State at 12 p.m. on ESPN+
Boston College at Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. on FOX
Nicholls at Kansas State at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Abilene Christian at Texas Tech at 6 p.m. on FS1
Utah Tech at BYU at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Arizona at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Morgan State at Arizona State at 9 p.m. on ESPN+

Saturday, September 12
Washington State at Kansas State at 11 a.m. on TNT & HBO Max
Oregon at Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. on ESPN
UT Martin at West Virginia at 12 p.m. on ESPN+
Arizona at BYU at 2:30 p.m. on FOX
Weber State at Colorado at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Western Carolina at Cincinnati at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Southern at Houston at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Prairie View A&M at Baylor at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Grambling State at TCU at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Arkansas at Utah at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday, September 19 (not listed below: Colorado at Northwestern – according to CUBuffs.com – kickoff at 5:30 MT, FS1)
Arizona State vs. Kansas (Union Jack Classic – London) at 11 a.m. on FS1
Bowling Green at Iowa State at 11 a.m. on ESPNU
Tulane at Kansas State at 11 a.m. on ESPN2
Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Utah State at Utah at 2:30 p.m. on FOX
Louisiana Tech at Baylor at 3 p.m. on ESPNU
Georgia State at UCF at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Murray State at Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Arkansas State at TCU at 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Northern Illinois at Arizona at 9:30 p.m. on TNT & HBO Max

Friday, November 20
Iowa State at UCF at 5 p.m. on FS1

Previously Announced TV Selections
Saturday, August 29
Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland
North Carolina vs. TCU at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN

Thursday, September 3
Colorado at Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN

Saturday, September 5
Baylor vs. Auburn (in Atlanta) at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC

Friday, September 11
Missouri at Kansas at 7 p.m. CT on FOX

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May 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

*CU picks up a commitment from junior college defensive lineman Malachi Brown*

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Malachi Brown – DL

Committed May 23rd … Brown is a 6’3″, 315-pound defensive end, who comes to CU by way of the Monterrey Community College, coming to CU with four years to play three … 247 Sports bio … On3Sports/Rivals bio …

What others say about Brown … Brown was a member of the Recruiting Class of 2025, but spent last season with the Monterey Peninsula College Lobos. As a junior college transfer, Brown is rated as a three-star prospect by both services. At 247 Sports, Brown is listed as the No. 4 defensive line transfer in the nation, the No. 7 player out of California, and the No. 14 juco transfer in the country. At On3Sports/Rivals, Brown is considered to be the No. 10 defensive lineman in the nation, the No. 19 player out of California, and the No. 70 juco transfer in the country.

This past season, Brown totaled 36 tackles, seven tackles for losses, four sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Brown had other offers from … numerous other Power Four conference schools, most notably Florida State, West Virginia, and Kansas.

In his own words … “I think that’s what Colorado offers, a brotherhood-like football team,” Brown told BuffInsider.com. “I really like being able to talk to my teammates about anything, whatever they’re going through in life, if it’s off the field or on the field. Being able to talk to them and then going on the field and knowing that there’s 10 other guys that got my back through it all.”

“They said I fit perfectly, just come in there, put your head down and work your ass off to get what you deserve,” Brown told Rivals.com. “I feel like coming from JUCO, I don’t expect anything to be handed to me, so I’m coming in there with a mindset that everything is earned. And I’m going to earn it every time.”

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May 21st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU AD Fernando Lovo: “We’re going to uncover every stone to try to find a vertical of revenue that doesn’t exist right now”

From the Daily Camera … CU athletic director Fernando Lovo believes his professional transition, while challenging, has gone well.

“When you take over, and I said this in my press conference, I think it’s our obligation as a leader to look, learn, and listen,” he said. “So, I’ve done that. I’ve been able to really dive in with a lot of our coaches and my staff and understand what makes this place tick and how I can make it better.”

A big part of Lovo’s plan to make CU better is to generate revenue.

Many athletic departments around the country are facing financial challenges in a new era of college sports that includes revenue sharing for student-athletes and name, image and likeness.

“Colorado’s not alone, but we’ve had a lot of success early on since I’ve been here formulating what a plan looks like moving forward,” Lovo said. “We’re going to be very creative. We’re going to uncover every stone to try to find a vertical of revenue that doesn’t exist right now. And the ones that we have, we’ve got to enhance those.”

Lovo knows, of course, that success in football is a major factor in the financial success of the athletic department. CU is coming off a 3-9 season in 2025, while head coach Deion Sanders and his staff strive to turn that around this year.

“We’ve got to have a successful football program to be able to help our bottom line, obviously with ticket sales and the other ancillary revenue streams that come off of it,” he said.

Lovo added that naming rights for Folsom and the Events Center are a priority. Folsom Field has never had a naming rights partner and the Events Center’s relationship with Coors ended many years ago.

“That’s a big priority for me,” Lovo said. “We’ve been really aggressive on the naming rights front. I’ve been involved in a number of different pitches, and we’ve got a great thing to sell. We’ve got to capitalize on some of those. We’ve got to close some of those deals. We’re pushing really hard.”

… Continue reading story here …

… Here is the full interview … 

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CU Student-Athletes earn highest cumulative Spring semester GPA at 3.275 (Football in with a solid 3.004)

Press release from CUBuffs.com … For the second-straight semester, University of Colorado Boulder student-athletes set a benchmark in the classroom.

The Buffaloes earned the highest Spring semester GPA in history this last term with a 3.275 combined mark for 309 student-athletes. This achievement follows a record Fall semester in which Colorado student-athletes hit an all-semester high of 3.296.

The Spring 2026 term marked the fourth consecutive semester in which Colorado student-athletes posted at least a 3.2, with this go-around topping the previous Spring best of 3.264 in 2025. A broader trend of academic excellence continued, with the Buffaloes posting their 13th consecutive semester with at least a 3.0. Colorado has registered at least a 3.1 department-wide GPA in 10 of the past 12 semesters.

“Completing an academic year with back-to-back GPA records is truly remarkable and illustrative of our student-athletes’ commitment to success in the classroom,” said Fernando Lovo, Director of Athletics. “I am so proud of Jed Herb and the entire team with the Herbst Academic Center, our coaches, and especially our student-athletes for their incredible work to continually exceed our high academic standards.”

“These student athletes continue to raise the bar and impress with their academic accomplishments,” said Jed Herb, Associate AD for Academics.  “Our student-athletes consistently met challenges this semester with composure, resilience, and continued achievement, which was a defining part of their success. We are incredibly proud of the students and the academic success that they continue having through dedication and hard work.”

Those figures contribute to Colorado’s overall student-athlete cumulative GPA, which stands at a resounding 3.326. Fourteen of 15 varsity programs have a cumulative GPA above 3.0, with 13 at 3.2 or higher. Colorado’s cross country and track and field programs are combined in these academic numbers because they share the same team members.

For the Spring semester, 14 of 15 teams posted GPAs above a 3.0 and 11 soared beyond 3.2.

Three programs recorded their highest Spring semester GPAs in team history, led by men’s golf, which posted a 3.581, notably during a period when academic crunch time coincides with pressure-packed postseason competition. Women’s soccer had its best Spring at 3.474, posting at least a 3.0 for the 34th time in its last 35 semesters. Football achieved its Spring best at 3.004, its second 3.0 in the last four semesters.

Ten Colorado programs are riding consecutive terms with GPAs above 3.0, well into double digits. Women’s skiing hit the “golden milestone” with its 50th-consecutive term over a 3.0 and led the department with a 3.747 this Spring. Women’s cross country enjoyed its 44th-straight 3.0 semester with a 3.491 this last term.

Lacrosse earned a 3.716 GPA, the second-best in the entire department this Spring, its 24th straight over 3.0, all while making its memorable NCAA Elite Eight run.

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May 12th

… CU in a few minutes …

Kickoff time for CU at Georgia Tech (Thursday, 6:00 p.m., MT, ESPN)

From CUBuffs.com … For the fourth straight season in the Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders era, the Colorado Buffaloes football program has had a game selected as part of the television Upfront presentations, as ABC announced Tuesday that Colorado’s season opener at Georgia Tech on Thursday, Sept. 3, will kickoff at 6 p.m. MT/8 p.m. ET and be nationally televised on ESPN.

The game was one of four Big 12 contests announced during the annual Upfront presentations, where major television networks showcase premier sports and entertainment programming to advertisers ahead of the fall season.

Colorado continues to maintain one of the highest national television profiles in college football under Coach Prime. The Georgia Tech game will mark the 24th time in the Buffaloes’ last 26 games that CU has been selected for either the flagship ESPN channel or one of the major broadcast networks — ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC or TNT. Including appearances on ESPN2 and FS1, Colorado has now been selected for one of those national television windows in 26 straight games and in 35 of 38 contests during the Coach Prime era

Last season, Colorado’s home game against Georgia Tech was announced during the Upfront presentations, while in 2024 both the North Dakota State and Nebraska games were included in various network Upfront announcements. In 2023, Coach Prime’s Colorado debut at TCU was announced as part of FOX’s Upfront presentation.

The matchup at Georgia Tech is the second game of a home-and-home series between the programs after the Yellow Jackets earned a 27-20 win last season at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes will be looking to even the series in their first-ever trip to Atlanta and just the second game in program history played in the state of Georgia.

… Continue reading story here …

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May 11th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Can Albany defensive end Balansama Kamara be the answer for CU? “Life is about opportunities”

From the Daily Camera … As he recovered from a knee injury this spring, Colorado safety Ben Finneseth didn’t participate in practices.

He did, however, observe a lot and discovered he’s got some company in the leadership department. Included in that group is defensive end Balansama Kamara, a newcomer who isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

“That’s my dawg,” said Finneseth, one of the Buffaloes’ top leaders this year. “When things aren’t going right, he’s going to be the first one to say something. He’s going to get in people’s ear about it.”

Kamara could also be one of the leaders on the field.

A 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end who played the previous two years at Albany, Kamara is part of a big list of transfers hoping to boost a CU pass rush that struggled in 2025.

“I feel like my effort is everything,” Kamara said during spring practices. “It’s about how hard I go, and I play with a lot of passion. I feel like that’s the biggest thing when it comes to my game, my effort.”

A year ago at Albany, Kamara’s effort led to him earning first-team All-Coastal Athletic Association honors after posting 67 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, seven hurries and three forced fumbles.

The Philadelphia native began his collegiate career with two seasons (2021-22) at Temple. He redshirted in 2021 and played seven games in 2022, posting 15 tackles and half a sack.

Kamara then spent one season at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College before playing the past two years at Albany.

… Continue reading story here …

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May 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Two potential star receivers – DeAndre Moore and Joseph Williams – ready to join the fold after missing spring

From the Daily Camera … Two of Colorado’s top weapons at receiver didn’t participate in spring practices, as they were nursing injuries.

Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is well aware of what DeAndre Moore Jr. and Joseph Williams can bring to the table, though.

“I’m just excited to get those two back out there, not only for their play on the field but their leadership for the guys and their confidence, their swagger,” Marion said last month. “That’s what’s needed at receiver: receivers bring the energy every day. You need those type of guys on the field to get the team’s juice right.”

Injuries hampered the Buffs’ receiving corps throughout spring, but San Jose State transfer Danny Scudero has clearly emerged as a leader in the room. He led the nation with 1,297 receiving yards a year ago and made a strong impression on head coach Deion Sanders, Marion and others in his first few months with the Buffs.

“I’ve known DeAndre for a long time,” Marion said. “I recruited him out of high school and brought him to Texas. I always wanted to coach him because of the person he is. I know he’s a great player, but DeAndre’s, like, a dynamic person. And so obviously you guys will get to see that as he gets healthy and gets to play.”

Last year, the 6-2, 200-pound Williams transferred to CU and was second on the team in catches (37), receiving yards (489) and touchdown receptions (four).

“Our connection is the University of Tulsa,” Marion said. “I always make a joke with him, like, you saw me every day when you walked in that building because my picture’s up there. But I love Joe. He’s a great kid, his story is amazing, he works really hard.”

While Moore and Williams were on the sidelines this spring, both could play prominent roles in the offense this season, which kicks off Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech.

… Read full story here …

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Tags: Malachi Brown
This post, about the Spring/Summer game, from the 2026 Season, is filed under Article.
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