Deion Sanders Doesn’t Hesitate When Asked If Colorado Will Make the College Football Playoff originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Colorado Buffaloes are entering a season full of uncertainty after finishing 9-4 last year—one of their best records in recent memory—just a season removed from going 4-8 in 2023, which marked head coach Deion Sanders’ first year in Boulder.
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Now entering his third season, Sanders faces the challenge of replacing the centerpieces of the past two years: two-way star Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, both of whom were drafted into the NFL.
Despite the roster turnover, Sanders has reloaded through the transfer portal and high school recruiting, building a team he believes is more than capable of competing.
Deion Sanders Speaks on College Football Playoff
In a recent walk-and-talk interview with his former teammate and fellow NFL legend Michael Irvin, Sanders didn’t hesitate when asked if his team can reach the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this year.
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“Do you predict any chance of getting in those playoffs?” Irvin asked.
Without missing a beat, Sanders replied: “There’s a possibility. The thing about our conference is there’s a lot of good teams. A lot of good teams are neck and neck. It may be a two-loss team that gets to the championship in our conference. The reason I want to win it—I want to play in Dallas. I want to go and coach there on that sideline. I wanna see how that feel.”
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.
Dylan Widger-Imagn ImagesDylan Widger-Imagn Images
Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes are set to debut 33 incoming transfer portal additions for the 2025 season, according to 247Sports. Their clear priority this offseason was becoming bigger, stronger, and simply better in the trenches—highlighted by the addition of nine offensive linemen through the portal alone.
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At quarterback, Colorado faces an intriguing dilemma. They landed Liberty standout Kaidon Salter while also bringing in five-star freshman Julian Lewis, who committed to the program this offseason.
Beyond that, the Buffaloes added several key pieces on defense and at the skill positions on offense. Now, the hope is that the retooled roster will be strong enough to compete in the Big 12—and potentially earn one of the 12 coveted spots in the College Football Playoff.
Related: Jon Gruden Sends Strong Message About Travis Hunter Ahead of His Rookie Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
