The Road Ahead for Colorado
The Buffaloes sit at an 81 overall rating in the latest EA Sports College Football 27 installment, a figure that places them near the bottom of the Big 12 conference. Offensively they are graded at 81, while their defense holds a slightly higher 82, but the numbers still reflect a program searching for a turnaround.
A 2025 campaign that yielded just three victories and left the team out of bowl contention has intensified scrutiny on head coach Deion Sanders, whose 16‑21 record since taking the helm in 2023 underscores the steep learning curve he faces.
The 2026 slate opens with a Thursday night road test at Georgia Tech, a venue where the Buffaloes fell 27‑20 in their most recent meeting. Oddsmakers list Colorado as a 7.5‑point underdog, offering a +235 price tag for a straight‑up win, while the over/under for the game hovers around the 4.5‑win mark set by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Adding intrigue, redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is slated to start at quarterback. In his limited freshman action he threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, suggesting a potential spark for an offense that has struggled to find consistency.
Championship odds further illustrate the uphill battle: Colorado’s futures price to win the Big 12 title sits at +12000, a stark contrast to the +100 line extended to Texas Tech, the current favorite.