Has Colorado Football Lost Its Hype? Can Coach Prime Reignite in 2025?
The Colorado football off‑season hype reached a fever pitch in April 2023 when the Buffaloes' spring game drew 47,277 fans. Sports Business Journal reported that the crowd was the largest in school history, eclipsing every previous Colorado scrimmage. Roughly twenty-four months later, the vibe feels noticeably different, and the reasons run deeper than a couple of high‑profile departures.
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LAST YEAR: EVERYTHING WAS PRIME‑TIME
Even cold rain could not douse the excitement even a year ago. NBC Sports noted that 28,424 fans braved the weather to watch the 2024 scrimmage, the second‑largest spring turnout college football saw that weekend. Colorado announced a full season‑ticket sell‑out before June, something the program had accomplished only twice since 2000, according to a CU Buffs press release. Two‑way sensation Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders landed on every major preseason Heisman watch list, a point ESPN emphasized in its July preview. Social feeds buzzed with 'We Comin' ' and recruits hurried to schedule visits.
Jason Jones/Athlon Sports
THIS YEAR: REALITY BITES
Hunter's No. 2 overall selection by Jacksonville removed Colorado's most electric player from the roster. Five rounds later, the Cleveland Browns scooped up Sanders at No. 144. Meanwhile, head coach Deion Sanders spent parts of spring handling an undisclosed health issue; ESPN says he expects to be back in time for camp but has not detailed a timetable. Attendance followed the star power out the door. Sports Illustrated counted 20,430 fans at the 2025 spring game, a respectable crowd yet less than half of the 2023 figure.
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THE RECRUITING DIP
Colorado's 2025 high‑school class currently sits outside the national top 35 and squarely in Big 12 middle ground, according to the composite rankings at 247Sports. The staff is still active in the transfer portal, though none of the newest additions has generated Hunter‑level buzz. After two winters of roster churn, prospects and donors seem ready for concrete proof of line‑of‑scrimmage improvement before they buy in again.
WHO TAKES THE SNAP?
Replacing a multi‑year starter is never simple, and replacing the coach's son adds extra scrutiny. The quarterback derby features Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, who totaled 66 touchdowns in Conference USA. Five‑star freshman Julian 'JuJu' Lewis reclassified from 2026; Sports Illustrated calls him the most celebrated high‑school signal‑caller ever to sign with Colorado. Sophomore Ryan Staub owns the advantage of system knowledge. None has taken a Saturday snap in Boulder, and Yahoo Sports reports that Deion Sanders will not name a leader until deep into August.
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WHY BUZZ MATTERS
Off‑season excitement drives television slots, NIL cash, and portal momentum. Last year's frenzy helped Colorado land a prime Friday opener on ESPN and sent team merchandise sales surging. With the volume turned down, those revenue streams risk leveling off. Ticket demand remains healthy — Colorado logged a third straight sell‑out, according to the same CU Buffs release but renewal surveys indicate that many buyers want visible progress in the trenches before committing for 2026.
BIG OPENING TEST
Georgia Tech visits Folsom Field on Friday, Aug. 29, in national prime time. FBSchedules lists the Yellow Jackets as returning nine defensive starters from a bowl squad that rarely beats itself. A sluggish Buffaloes start will validate every off‑season worry; a crisp performance could rekindle part of the 2024 buzz and keep Colorado in the Big 12 conversation.
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BOTTOM LINE
The Colorado football off‑season hype has shifted from roaring bass to a measured hum. Ticket sales still look good, but the automatic spotlight is gone. Year Three of the Prime experiment must generate new excitement on the field. If the rebuilt roster gels and Coach Prime stays healthy, September could feel like a fresh beginning. If key questions linger, last summer may stand as the program's peak hype moment and the retooled Big 12 will show no mercy.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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