Deion Sanders Hires New OC Brennan Marion to Transform Colorado's Offense for Playoff Push
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The Colorado Buffaloes, under head coach Deion Sanders, aim to recover from a disappointing 3-9 season.
Sanders decided to remove offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur from his play-calling responsibilities, which prompted the hiring of a new offensive coordinator this offseason. The Buffaloes brought on Brennan Marion, who previously served as the head coach at Sacramento State and was the offensive coordinator at UNLV before that.
Marion is the mastermind behind one of the most unique offenses in college football known as the “Go-Go” offense. One of its formations features two running backs lined up on the same side as the quarterback. Although this may seem limiting, Marion cleverly utilizes this formation to confuse defenses through a variety of difficult-to-defend runs, options, and run-pass options (RPOs), all within an up-tempo offensive strategy.
Marion did an interview with Rivals, where he discussed the new strategy the Buffaloes are adopting compared to previous years under Sanders, aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
“We’re going to make a strong push in high school football this year,” Marion said. “We made a decent late push when I got here. The one thing that I’ve loved since I’ve been here is Coach Prime has been involved in every recruiting decision, he’s watched every guy and verified with his eyes to make sure it’s the right player coming into the program.”
High school recruiting has not been a priority for Sanders during his tenure at Colorado, as he has focused more on utilizing the transfer portal. In his four high school recruiting classes, he has signed only 63 players, compared to 171 players from the transfer portal. Marion mentioned to Rivals that they are targeting specific players to enhance the team’s performance.
“We were really focused on getting the guys who had the character traits and not just the physical attributes,” Marion said. “When you have Coach Prime, you have the best closer in football. If we can get a family to get in front of him, he’s going to close them out, but it’s about putting the right people in front of him and making sure coaches do their due diligence on finding the background, the story, the history of the kid.
Marion said they are looking for players who are genuinely hungry for the game and passionate about football, not just those who want to take a photo with Coach Prime or feed off his publicity. Their goal is to attract individuals who desire to play quality football and have the opportunity to make it to the NFL.
The immediate impact of bringing in Marion is twofold: schematic evolution and philosophical adjustment. On the field, the Go-Go offense introduces tempo, multiplicity and downhill pressure that could help stabilize an attack that lacked consistency. Off the field, a stronger emphasis on high school recruiting signals a shift toward building sustainable depth rather than relying primarily on short-term portal fixes. That change could impact roster balance, locker room continuity and long-term development across the program.
Historically, programs that depend heavily on the transfer portal often face volatility from year to year. By contrast, sustained success typically comes from stacking high school classes and developing players within a consistent system. Marion’s comments suggest Colorado is attempting to recalibrate. With Sanders remaining heavily involved in recruiting evaluations, the Buffaloes are betting that pairing elite branding power with deeper vetting and developmental focus will create a stronger foundation.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Colorado’s progress will be measured quickly. The Buffaloes will open the year with a chance to showcase their revamped offense and recruiting direction, and early results could shape the national narrative around Sanders’ long-term viability in Boulder. If the schematic overhaul and recruiting reset translate into wins, Colorado could reenter the playoff conversation sooner than many expect.
Related: Deion Sanders, Colorado Land Commitment From 1,100-Yard WR Prospect
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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