David Braun Praises Deion Sanders, Colorado Ahead of Week 3

Northwestern may enter Saturday's matchup against Colorado as a 3.5-point favorite, but head coach David Braun is not treating the Buffaloes like an underdog.

Instead, Braun spent part of his Monday press conference praising what Deion Sanders has built in Boulder and emphasizing the challenge Colorado presents to the Wildcats. With Northwestern preparing for its first game in two weeks, Braun made it clear that his team understands what is waiting on the other side.

Braun said Sanders has done an “incredible job” building the Colorado program since arriving in Boulder, while also giving credit to Sanders and his staff for how they constructed the Buffaloes' roster during the offseason.

That work, according to Braun, is already showing up on film.

Braun specifically pointed to Colorado's two new coordinators and the impact they have made early in the season. He said both have done an outstanding job and that the changes are “tangibly” showing up when watching the Buffaloes play.

That has gotten Northwestern's attention.

Colorado enters Saturday's matchup 2-0 after opening the season with a last-minute win before defeating Weber State more comfortably. The Buffaloes will now face their first Big Ten opponent of the season when they travel to Evanston for the nationally televised matchup.

Braun also praised Colorado's talent across the roster, particularly the way the Buffaloes have played up front.

He pointed to the running backs as an explosive group and said Colorado's quarterback has shown plenty of talent, including in the team's win over Weber State. The Buffaloes have also shown an aggressive approach defensively, giving Northwestern another challenge to prepare for after its own strong defensive performance against South Dakota State.

Up front, Braun said Colorado has played with physicality and intelligence. He also highlighted the Buffaloes' linebackers as another group that has caught his attention.

For Northwestern, that creates a matchup between two teams that enter the game with plenty of confidence.

The Wildcats opened the season with a 34-18 win over South Dakota State, totaling 497 yards of offense while Aidan Chiles accounted for two touchdowns. The extra week has allowed Northwestern to recover from the opener and begin preparing specifically for Colorado.

Braun said his players were already excited about the matchup and began preparing for Colorado last week, giving the Wildcats plenty of time to study the Buffaloes before Saturday.

That preparation will be important.

Northwestern has the benefit of playing at home and will be expected to win, but Braun's comments show the Wildcats are not taking Colorado lightly. The coaching staff has seen enough from Sanders' team to understand that the Buffaloes are more than their 2-0 record.

This game also has a different level of attention. Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is expected to provide a strong atmosphere. At the same time, the matchup will be nationally televised and give both programs an opportunity to make an early statement.

For Braun, however, the focus remains on preparation.

He knows what Sanders has built in Colorado, understands the talent on the roster and sees the improvements the Buffaloes have made under their new coordinators.

Now, Northwestern will have to put that preparation to work.

The Wildcats may be favored entering the week, but Braun's praise for Sanders and Colorado makes one thing clear: Northwestern knows exactly what kind of challenge is coming to Evanston.