Before the start of the 2026 regular season, one thing was clear: Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders needed to win. Coach Prime worst season with the Buffaloes came in 2025, which was a 3-9 record that included one win over a ranked opponent. That season also included a five-game losing streak at the end. 

Sanders himself credits his absence as a significant contributor. Late in 2024, Sanders experienced physical discomfort. After a routine test for his blood clot issue, doctors discovered cancer. Sanders would spend most of that offseason undergoing procedures and recovery. According to Sanders, he was unable to touch everything that walked through the doors.

In the 2026 offseason, Sanders was understandably more present. Confirming that he is, in fact, touching everything has come through the doors of the Champions Center. Sanders also executed a pivot to his recruiting strategy. A change that left many concerned for this season.

2026 was always going to look different than the previous three seasons under Prime. The first three were dominated by the idea that Sanders was “Mr. 11th hour flip”, pulling in big-name recruits. Even if they were committed elsewhere. The days of pulling a Cormani McClain, Jordan Seaton or even a Julian Lewis are over.

Sanders committed to a ‘gentleman’s rebuild’. All high-priced talent or highly rated talent departed. They have been replaced with hungry and under-recruited players. Some of that is likely due to the $27M deficit reported in the first quarter of the fiscal year. However, Sanders and his staff were more than vocal last season in regard to players shrinking in the moment and a trend of losing games the same way. Over and over again.

Coming into this season, it was believed to be Lewis’ offense to run. Lewis has not played for Colorado since the Baylor game. On September 26, the team that came out against Georgia Tech in week 1 used the running game so dominantly that they dared the Yellow Jackets to stop it. They immediately abandoned that approach.

They were able to beat Weber State with an inconsistent rushing attack. They didn’t go back to it again until the Halloween game vs Kansas State. They lost every game in between those two points.

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The ‘rebuild’ is not without successes though. Gideon "ESPN" Lampron has played at an award-winning level. Lampron has been the best player in the team and it's not exactly close. Lampron is one tackle shy of 100 tackles on the season and leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss. Joseph Williams, a carryover from last season, has been the offensive MVP by a wide margin. Williams has four games out of nine over 120 yards and is averaging almost 15 yards per reception. If he can gain 100 yards tonight, Williams will be in range of 1,000 yards on the season with two games left on the schedule.

Despite their offensive struggles, the Colorado defense, for a stretch, was ranked in the top 5 of all FBS programs. Giving up 57 points to No. 25 Oklahoma State bounced them from that lofty range. The defense has kept them close in games. Most analysts expected them to lose big. The opening win over Georgia Tech, a 29-7 loss to Texas Tech (it was 7-3 at halftime), a 27-24 loss to undefeated Utah and the win over Kansas State.

It will be high noon when Colorado takes on Houston at Folsom Field. A win over a ranked opponent would likely go a long way towards quieting the noise around Sanders’ immediate future with the Buffs. A loss would mathematically eliminate Colorado from ‘bowl eligibility’ for the second consecutive season.

Sanders claimed in his Tuesday press conference that he is not affected by the noise surrounding his ‘hot seat’. Two consecutive 3-win seasons, which is a real possibility, is far from a confidence-inspiring performance for any Power 4 head football coach.

Colorado desperately needs no doubt about its win over a team believed to be better than them to quell the chatter. A win over Houston would give them a 4th win between this year and last. If they don’t win, the noise will get louder.

Colorado vs No. 14 Houston kicks off at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.