Troy Renck: Most teams store memories from a special season in a trophy case. The CU Buffs placed them on the east side of the stadium. It makes you wonder if they desperately wanted those retired numbers — Shedeur Sanders’ and Travis Hunter — as a visible reminder of excellence if 2025 fails to live up to expectations. CSU avoided upheaval last season, finally winning rivalry games against Wyoming and Air Force, before getting hammered by Miami of Ohio in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Was that an indication that this season will go up in smoke? In most sportsbooks, both over-under win totals are set at 6.5. So, who delivers the most victories?
Sean Keeler: I believe in Robert Livingston and the CU defense. I’m not sure about Tyson Summers at CSU. I believe Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi can springboard his run at the Manning Passing Academy this summer into a step forward in FoCo. I believe Kaidon Salter has a higher floor this fall in Boulder, but that young Julian Lewis has been promised QB1 from the jump. I believe they’re both bowling again — but barely. Buffs win seven. Rammies win six.
Renck: CU is in knee-deep trouble if they don’t find some trusted legs in the backfield. The Buffs failed to add a high-profile transfer despite a clear opportunity for more work with Sanders gone. Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch combined for 386 yards last season on 3.57 yards per pop. That won’t work. Can one of them show explosiveness this season? Perhaps. But it depends on an offensive line that will spend Saturdays getting thrown under the bus without significant improvement. The Buffs would be better off creating a running identity, starting senior quarterback Kaidon Salter over freshman Julian Lewis. If Lewis is shoe-horned into the lineup too soon — he doesn’t look physically ready — can he avoid injury and upsets for a team that has little margin for error and underwhelming offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur calling plays?
Keeler: Lewis has all kinds of upside, all kinds of talent. But you can’t coach height. Conventional thinking would dictate a year in the weight room before being thrown into the fray. Yet we all know what Deion Sanders thinks of conventional thinking. Which means the success of this offense probably comes down to a line made up of Jordan Seaton and portal patches — and down to Shurmur, who doesn’t have Shedeur-to-Travis anymore to bail the Buffs out of third-and-forevers. Welch was a revelation as a freshman last year, who, at his best, resembled a young Javonte Williams. But is he an every-down dude? The pass rush and secondary should be salty again. Does Coach Prime have enough Kirk Ferentz in him to play to his roster’s strengths? Can CU win games 23-20? They might have to.
Renck: CSU has an easier schedule, and a third-year starter at QB in Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. That, um, should be a good thing. Fowler-Nicolosi regressed last season. He has emphasized the importance of the Rams being consistent and finishing. The same applies to him. He has to be better if the Rams are to reach seven or eight wins. That is more realistic than the Buffs, whose lack of playmakers to fill the void left by Shedeur and Hunter will make six victories their ceiling.
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