Biggest question marks for Colorado football entering 2026 season

Colorado has a ton of roster turnover heading into the 2026 college football season, which often brings plenty of question marks. Still, in the age of the transfer portal, they probably should be labeled unknowns rather than question marks. Two new coordinators, a new offensive scheme, and plenty of new players make the 2026 Buffs a very intriguing team entering the season.

How good will Colorado's offense be at averaging 30-plus points? Can the defense finally be a better unit against the run? Those are all some of the questions Buffs fans may have entering the 2026 season. Our staff at Buffaloes Wire put together our thoughts on the biggest question facing Colorado football this fall.

How productive can Colorado's run game become?

Ariana Pensy: The quality of the run game remains the biggest question mark going into this season. Last year, their leading rusher did not even reach 400 yards, and their quarterback, Kaidon Salter, led the team in rushing touchdowns. Colorado took to the transfer portal to address this issue by adding Damian Henderson Jr from Colorado State and Richard Young from Alabama. DeKalon Taylor will also be returning after missing eight games last season due to injury. They should have enough talent to make the run game decent this year, but it remains a major concern given the uncertainty of relying on so many transfers.

Consistency along the offensive line

James Carnes: I need to see if Colorado will establish a true run game this season to stay ahead of the chains and avoid long passing downs. What we've heard from fall camp is that it is one of Brennan Marion's focuses.

Can Julian Lewis be the player Colorado needs?

Charlie Strella: An offense cannot be productive without a quarterback who can distribute the ball efficiently. Lewis showed in small samples last year that he is an accurate thrower and not one who puts the ball in harm's way. How big a step Lewis takes this year likely determines how far the Buffaloes can go. If he lives up to his five-star recruit hype, CU's offense will be one of the Big 12's best.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Biggest question marks for Colorado football entering 2026 season