USA TODAY Sports predicts another rough season for Colorado football

The Colorado Buffaloes enter the 2026 season with extremely low external expectations, largely because the program is coming off an abysmal 3-9 season. National power rankings and even betting odds do not see a great season in store for Deion Sanders' team.

That continued to be the case Wednesday with USA TODAY Sports' release of its record predictions for every college football team. In the Big 12, the USA TODAY Sports staff predicted a 3-9 overall record and a 2-7 conference record. Back-to-back 3-9 seasons would spark a ton of anger, disappointment, and likely several other emotions from CU fans across the country. It could also, as USA TODAY Sports points out in their prediction, raise some questions about Sanders' status as Colorado's long-term head coach.

"If things go as we expect at Colorado, there will be some tough questions asked about the state of Deion Sanders' program," the USA TODAY Sports staff wrote.

I don't see a 3-9 season as a likely outcome for the Buffs this year. The talent is better, the coaching staff is the best it has been under Sanders, and most importantly, it does feel like there was a real culture shift this offseason. The schedule is challenging but manageable enough to win six games and make a bowl game. While the Buffs have higher goals of making the Big 12 title game, a 6-6 season and a bowl game victory would be a successful season in my book.

The predicted standings have the Buffaloes finishing 15th in the conference, one game ahead of Iowa State, who had a 1-8 Big 12 record in this projection. Texas Tech takes the top spot for the second straight year, with BYU and Houston rounding out the top three.

Colorado's floor should be roughly five wins, but the ceiling is there for an even better year. Anything less than five wins would be a severe disappointment and a prediction far too common in the lead-up to the season.

The Buffaloes open their 2026 season Thursday, Sept. 3, in Atlanta against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: USA TODAY Sports predicts another rough season for Colorado football