Colorado football predictions 2026: Projecting Deion Sanders' make-or-break season in Year 3

Deion Sanders' third season as Colorado football coach looms as a make-or-break moment for both Sanders and the Buffaloes. Sanders' record at Colorado has been mixed - 16 wins and 21 losses in three seasons, with a particularly disappointing 3-9 finish last year. His lone successful year was 2024, when his son Shedeur and running back Travis Hunter had stellar seasons.

As Sanders enters his fourth season at Colorado, he is being judged on whether he can keep his job. The 2026 season promises to be a challenging one for the Buffaloes, with a difficult September schedule that includes three away games. A win in the season opener against Georgia Tech could define the season, setting the tone for the rest of the campaign.