Deion Sanders is heading into the 2026 college football season with a clear message: Colorado’s struggles last year came down to mistakes the program is now trying to fix.
After a disappointing 3-9 finish in 2025, the Buffaloes have gone through major roster changes, especially through the transfer portal. Now, Deion Sanders is openly addressing what went wrong and how Colorado plans to move forward.
Deion Sanders Opens Up About 2025 Mistakes
Speaking to reporters about the new-look roster, Deion Sanders admitted that personnel decisions at key spots played a major role in derailing Colorado’s season.
“I am not going to say that,” Deion Sanders said. “We made some tremendous mistakes at certain positions that derailed us a year ago. The first couple of years, we had stability at those positions that highlighted us. So, we learned quite a bit of not just talent but understanding mentality. And mentality is something that we targeted. It’s something that we sat down and interviewed and made sure not only the young men but the parents had that type of mentality.”
That quote offers a direct look into how Sanders is approaching the rebuild. Rather than focusing only on talent, Colorado appears to be placing greater emphasis on mindset and culture.
The numbers reflect why change became necessary. After winning nine games in 2024, the Buffaloes slipped to just three wins in 2025, their lowest total under Deion Sanders in Boulder. Colorado also struggled badly in Big 12 play, finishing 1-8 in conference games.
Colorado Reloads for 2026
To respond to last season’s issues, Colorado has been one of the busiest teams in the transfer portal.
The Buffs saw 36 players from the 2025 roster enter the portal while bringing in 43 incoming transfers. That level of turnover signals a major reset ahead of a crucial season for Sanders.
On offense, Colorado suffered notable losses, including offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and leading receiver Omarion Miller. However, the program moved quickly to fill those gaps.
Former Texas wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. is among the headline additions. Moore arrives after recording 38 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
Colorado also added several offensive tackles, including Taj White, Leon Bell, Bo Hughley, and Jayven Richardson.
Those additions come after an offense that ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 last season. Colorado averaged just 328.4 yards per game and 20.9 points per game, both second-worst marks in the conference.
For Deion Sanders, 2026 now becomes a defining year. With last season’s mistakes publicly acknowledged and major roster changes in place, the focus shifts to whether those lessons can translate into results on the field.