Colorado 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Colorado Buffaloes 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Colorado Buffaloes roster and what to expect in the Big 12 this season. After a 3-9 finish that included a 1-4 record in games decided by 10 points or less, can Deion Sanders pull the Buffaloes back toward a bowl? Does new coordinator Brennan Marion have the pieces to wake up an offense that ranked 116th in scoring a year ago? And with Julian Lewis and Utah transfer Isaac Wilson both in the room, who wins the quarterback job in Boulder?
Can returning weapons like running back Micah Welch and receiver Joseph Williams give that quarterback something to lean on, or does the whole season ride on a young arm? Will new defensive coordinator Chris Marve patch up a unit that finished 135th against the run, and can transfers like Tennessee nickel Boo Carter and Texas linebacker Liona Lefau change a defense that returns barely half its production? What happens when Folsom Field fills up for Texas Tech, Utah and Kansas State, and can that crowd steal one nobody expects? Is Deion Sanders coaching to save his seat at 16-21, with road trips to Georgia Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Cincinnati stacked against him? And where’s the betting value on the Colorado Buffaloes win total, Big 12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
The 3-9 Hangover In Boulder
The shine wore off fast. Two years after Coach Prime turned Boulder into the biggest show in the sport, Colorado slid to 3-9 in 2025. First, the Buffaloes went 1-4 in games decided by 10 points or less. Then they dropped one-score heartbreakers to Georgia Tech, BYU, West Virginia and Kansas State. The lone close win came against Iowa State, 24-17. Flip two of those, and the whole conversation around this program changes. They did not flip. Because of that, the gap between on-the-rise and on-the-clock is razor thin.
Deion Sanders And The Seat Underneath Him
Prime sits at 16-21 through three seasons at Colorado. The panel put his hot seat at a 3 out of 10. Also, they graded the overall state of the program at a 4 out of 10. That reads more like on-the-rise with a question mark than a promise. Nobody is running Deion Sanders out of Boulder this fall. But a second straight losing season would turn that question mark into something louder. The attention, the recruiting swagger and the national eyeballs are still there. Because of that, the wins have to start matching the noise.
Brennan Marion’s Offense And The Quarterback Question
The 2025 offense was a problem across the board. It ranked 116th in scoring, 114th in total offense, 104th rushing and 95th passing. New coordinator Brennan Marion inherits that mess. He also inherits a quarterback battle to sort out. Julian Lewis flashed as a young arm, going 52-of-94 for 589 yards with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions across four games. Then Utah transfer Isaac Wilson arrived to push him for the job. Whoever wins it gets help. Running back Micah Welch, receiver Joseph Williams, tight end Zach Atkins and lineman Larry Johnson III headline that group. Together, it returns 57 percent of its production. Also joining the mix: transfer receivers DeAndre Moore Jr. and Danny Scudero, plus Alabama running back Richard Young.
Chris Marve And A Defense That Sprung Leaks
If the offense was bad, the run defense was a fire drill. Colorado finished 135th against the run and 123rd in total defense. It also finished 112th in scoring, though the pass defense held up better at 41st. New coordinator Chris Marve takes over that unit. It returns only 53 percent of its production, with safety Ben Finneseth among the few holdovers. Because of that, the rebuild leans on the portal. Newcomers include nickel Boo Carter from Tennessee and linebacker Liona Lefau from Texas. Also joining: edge Vili Taufatofua, lineman Santana Hopper and safety Randon Fontenette. Then there is the class’s lone top-300 recruit, linebacker Carson Crawford. There is talent to work with. Whether it gels into a defense that can get off the field is the season’s biggest swing.
A Big 12 Slate With A Few Landmines
The schedule opens on the road at Georgia Tech. Then Weber State visits for the home opener. From there it’s the Big 12 grind. Road dates await at Northwestern, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Cincinnati. Also, Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas State, Houston and UCF all come to Folsom Field, which celebrates 100 seasons this year. The home slate is where Colorado has to bank wins. If Boulder can turn Folsom into the advantage it was during the Prime honeymoon, the math changes. A bounce-back gets a lot friendlier from there.
The Win Total And Where The Value Sits
The number to beat is 4.5 wins. Colorado is a +12000 longshot to win the Big 12 and +9000 to make the College Football Playoff. Four and a half is a low bar. Also, this program has a ton of roster turnover, and a first-year quarterback plus two new coordinators. Because of that, the bet comes down to trust. First, back the talent influx and a healthier Deion Sanders to clear five wins. Then again, fade a defense that could not stop the run, on a schedule with real teeth. That is the debate we hammer out on the show.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
01:59 Colorado Buffaloes 2026 Preview Kickoff
02:49 Meet The Crew And Guest
05:10 Ralphie, Folsom Field And Best Campus In The Country
05:51 2025 Season Recap And Deion’s Cancer Battle
10:28 Deion Sanders’ Job Security
13:50 Deion’s Legacy, Clock Management And Buffs Coaching History
21:11 New OC Brennan Marion And The Go-Go Offense
24:06 Portal Turnover: Offense Departures And Newcomers
32:11 New DC Chris Marve And The Buffs Defense
39:11 Stampede Beer, Folsom Field Traditions And Buffs Legends
48:05 Program Grade: Four Out Of Ten
50:13 Schedule Predictions: Georgia Tech Through UCF
1:05:49 Win Total, Scheduling Gripes And Wishlist Rivals
1:10:29 Guest Sign-Off And Buffs Anthem
