After Saturday’s 37-21 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, Coach Prime’s Colorado Buffaloes (8-3) lost control of their playoff hopes. But all is not lost. The Buffs still have a chance to make the postseason, depending on their next win and the right draw of luck.
Colorado is in a four-way tie in conference standings at 6-2 with Arizona State, Iowa State, and BYU. If two of these three teams lose their Week 14 matchups, Colorado will make the Big 12 championship to play against the winning team. Upon winning that, the Buffaloes will have their ticket to the playoffs.
Deion Sanders Jr.’s Endearing Statement for Colorado
With Colorado’s next game against Oklahoma State — a team sitting last in the Big 12 and on an eight-game losing streak — it seems likely the Buffaloes will win on Friday. According to College Football Network, Colorado has an 89.8% chance of winning this matchup.
At the helm is a solid quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, who is NFL-bound next year. However, Oklahoma State’s offensive line is not as strong as it was a year ago.
Given this hope of still making the playoffs, Coach Prime’s oldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., posted on Monday:
“Thank you God for another day & opportunity.”
Thank you God for another day & opportunity
— Deion Sanders Jr (@DeionSandersJr) November 25, 2024
On Saturday, Shedeur threw two touchdowns before halftime despite Colorado’s offensive line unable to protect him well. A 51-yard strike to Travis Hunter was the first, with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Drelon Miller being the second.
Sanders ended the game with 23 completions on 29 attempts for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the loss, the QB is still in contention for the Heisman and is projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the season is cut short, he still is set to compete in the East-West Shrine Bowl, as announced on Nov. 20, an event where athletes can display their skills in front of scouts and executives from all 32 NFL teams.
The right combination for Colorado to make the Big 12 Championship Game requires two of the three following teams to lose in Week 14: Arizona State (9-2) to lose to Arizona (4-7), BYU (9-2) to lose to Houston (4-7), or Iowa State (9-2) to lose to Kansas State (8-3).
Given these records, College Football Network has given Colorado a 5.78% chance of making the playoffs and a 5.45% chance to make the Big 12 Championship Game.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Scouting Report
Pro Football Network released their most recent 2025 NFL Mock draft, where we had the New York Giants selecting at fourth overall. The Giants made the move to grab Sanders and secure their new starting quarterback after releasing Daniel Jones. While Tommy DeVito has currently taken over as the starting option, the QB situation in New York is a bit shaky and the Giants might be looking for additions.
“After releasing Daniel Jones, the New York Giants have shown their hand and will have to do something different at the QB position in 2025. Shedeur Sanders is the first QB off the board as the Colorado passer heads to New York in this simulation. Sanders is on track to become QB1 in the 2025 QB class, and there won’t be many arguments if this ends up being the selection when the Giants are on the clock in April.”
In Sanders’ scouting report, PFN’s Ian Cummings described Shedeur:
“Arm strength and accuracy are two of the most distinct selling points on Sanders’ tape. He generates easy velocity and has a degree of off-platform freedom. And while his mechanics are imperfect, he can find uncanny ways to hit targets with good placement and touch.
“Going further, Sanders’ processing — a trait honed across years of starting experience at the collegiate level — is also a relative strength. Sanders can operate pre-snap, recognize defensive looks, adjust protections, and progress through reads post-snap — and he’s a measured decision-maker who protects the ball more often than not.
“Despite this, Sanders can still seek further refinement. There are times when his lower body mechanics and dropback footwork lack control. This problem (sometimes exacerbated by poor OL play) can lead to bouts of situational imprecision.
“To that end, Sanders can also be inconsistent in navigating the pocket and managing space. And while he’s a solid athlete, he lacks an elite mobility profile and is restricted by notable limitations as a creative threat.”
This season, Sanders has gained 3,488 yards, with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His lowest score came in Week 2 in Colorado’s loss to Nebraska, where he threw for 244 yards and one touchdown.