Leading up to this season, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was a firm believer that his team would be better than it was a year ago. Related Articles Colorado board of regents approve contract for Buffs OC Brennan Marion Former Buff Darrin Chiaverini on CU ’s hire of Brennan Marion: ‘They’ll be much better offensively’ Colorado recruit Ben Gula eager to compete for spot on Buffs’ O-line Grading The Week: Deion Sanders’ hire of Brennan Marion as CU Buffs OC reminds us of Sean Lewis. That’s a good thing. Notre Dame opts out of bowl game after getting ‘punched in the stomach’ by CFP That was always going to be a tall order considering the 2024 Buffaloes went 9-4 and competed for the Big 12 title down to the final weekend of the regular season. Sanders never thought his expectations would fall so short, though. The Buffs came nowhere close to last year’s squad, finishing 3-9 overall and 15th in the 16-team Big 12 with a 1-8 conference record. “This fan base, the school, (athletic director Rick George), everybody deserves much better than this, and they expected much better than this,” Sanders said after a season-ending 24-14 loss at Kansas State last month. “I expected much better than this.” From the start, CU struggled to replace the star power and leadership that it had in 2024 with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, receiver LaJohntay Wester, safeties Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Shilo Sanders, and more. “Most definitely, we was lacking leadership,” said quarterback Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty who was expected to be a leader but had a roller-coaster season of his own. Injuries ravaged the team, as well, as CU was often missing several defensive linemen and defensive backs, lost standout left tackle Jordan Seaton for the last three games, and played the last eight without a pair of running backs that were key players early in the year. As with most seasons, there was good, too. The Buffs won just three games but had several others within grasp in the fourth quarter; they just couldn’t finish. A host of young players stepped up at times, too, building what could be a solid foundation for the future. In the end, though, it was a season that fell short of expectations, with Sanders pointing the finger at himself. “I see everything being different (going forward), even me,” he said. Two weeks after the finale, the Buffs have already starting building for 2026, but BuffZone takes a look back at the 2025 campaign with a final report card and individual awards. Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) escapes Arizona Wildcats linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) in BIG 12 football in Boulder on Nov. 1, 2025.(Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) Grades Offense: Typically, it’s not a good thing to start three different quarterbacks in the same season. This was just the ninth time since World War II that CU has done that — and the sixth time that season resulted in a losing record. With the exception of a few flashes here and there, CU never really found much rhythm offensively. The Buffs finished 15th in the Big 12 in scoring (20.9 points per game), 15th in total yards (328.4 per game) and 15th in rushing (125.6 per game). Senior Kaidon Salter had some good moments at quarterback but was benched twice. Sophomore Ryan Staub had a sensational day against Delaware but struggled otherwise. And, freshman JuJu Lewis showed some promise amid growing pains. CU did have a better group on the offensive line, the running backs were solid and receivers Omarion Miller and Joseph Williams had nice seasons. Grade: D-plus. Defense: A year ago, the Buffs made historic improvement. It was the first time in CU history that total defense improved by at least 100 yards and an 11.7-point improvement in the scoring defense was the best for a CU team in nearly 40 years. This year, the Buffs went the other direction, ranking last in the Big 12 in total defense (allowing 425.7 yards per game) and 13th in scoring defense (allowing 30.5 points per game). Nationally, only Eastern Michigan was worse against the run, as CU allowed 222.5 yards per game. There were good moments, as the Buffs held five teams below their scoring averages (including nationally ranked Georgia Tech, BYU and Iowa State), but those good moments were overshadowed by a few dreadful performances that turned the tide of the season. Grade: D-plus. Colorado defensive back Tawfiq Byard (7) celebrates a pass break up intended for Utah tight end Dallen Bentley (88) during the first half an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Special teams: Sanders desperately wanted a kicker that could produce touchbacks, and he got that in Buck Buchanan (42 touchbacks in 53 kickoffs). The Buffs also got another efficient season out of Alejandro Mata (9-for-11 on field goals), who doesn’t have a big leg but is reliable. Punter Damon Greaves was solid all season, averaging 43.7 yards per punt and putting 14 inside the 20-yard line. Freshman Quentin Gibson was an eager kickoff returner and ranked sixth nationally with 597 yards. That’s all good news. However, Gibson averaged just 23.9 yards on his returns, while the Buffs had two field goals blocked and two punts blocked. Overall, it was arguably the best special teams year under Sanders. Grade: B-minus. Individual awards Player of the year: WR Omarion Miller. Unlike last year, when Hunter was the player of the year in the country, there was no clear choice this year. Miller, however, was a consistent performer who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from coaches. If CU had more consistent play from the quarterback position, Miller might have put up huge numbers. Still, he finished with 44 catches for 807 yards and eight touchdowns. It’s just the 11th time in CU history that a player posted at least 40 catches, 800 yards and eight touchdowns. Top offensive player: LT Jordan Seaton. Miller could have had this one, too, but to spread the wealth, we’ll go with Seaton. Like Miller, he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors from league coaches. Seaton missed the last three games of the year with an injury, but ranked second in the Big 12 among all tackles for pass blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus. Honorable mention: Miller, C Zarian McGill, LG Xavier Hill. Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Omarion Miller tries to make a catch against Iowa State on Oct. 11, 2025, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. (photo by Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) Top defensive player: S Tawfiq Byard. Could make an argument as CU’s best player overall. The transfer from South Florida didn’t start until the fourth game, yet still finished as CU’s top tackler, with 84 stops. He also was tied for third for tackles for loss (7.5), led the team with two forced fumbles and posted an interception and four pass breakups — all while playing the second half of the year with a cast on his hand. Honorable mention: LB Jeremiah Brown, DE Keaten Wade, DB Preston Hodge. Top special teams player: PK Alejandro Mata. Attempted just 11 field goals, but he made nine of them, while also going 30-of-31 on extra points. Mata closes his career with the best field goal percentage (81.6%) in CU history. He also set a CU record with 104 consecutive extra points. Honorable mention: K Buck Buchanan, P Damon Greaves. Top transfer: C Zarian McGill. Byard was the most impactful transfer, but this will be another spread-the-wealth honor. McGill came to CU from Louisiana Tech, where he was a part-time starter in 2024. He battled for the job this offseason, won it and solidified the middle of the Buffs’ offensive line. He was CU’s highest-graded offensive player on PFF, and he led the offense in snaps played (798). He allowed just one sack and was penalized twice. Honorable mention: Byard, LG Xavier Hill, WR Joseph Williams. Top freshman: DE London Merritt. After not playing much early in the year, the true freshman from IMG Academy became a key part of the pass rush. He finished with 24 tackles, was second on the team in tackles for loss (eight) and posted a sack and five QB hurries. Honorable mention: DL Brandon Davis-Swain, DE Alex McPherson, QB JuJu Lewis. Most improved: LB Jeremiah Brown. A former Jackson State transfer, Brown didn’t play much his first two years at CU and was on the field for just two snaps in the opener this year. He wound up becoming one of CU’s most consistent defenders, finishing second on the team with 73 tackles, tied for third in tackles for loss (7.5) and third in sacks (2.0). Honorable mention: WR Omarion Miller, S Ben Finneseth. Best interviews: DE Arden Walker and Byard. A Cherry Creek High School grad and legacy Buff, Walker was exceptional every time he hit the podium. Byard was, too, and became a team leader that would step up to the mic after tough losses, as well as wins. Honorable mention: WR/RB Dre’Lon Miller, Finneseth. ...read more read less