Colorado's Big 12 title surge

The Big 12 was considered the most boring conference heading into this 2024 college football season.

However, the mediocre teams of the dismembered Pac 12 have created an unpredictable conference championship race through six weeks of the season.

Highlighting what was a disappointing team last year, the Colorado Buffaloes have changed the narrative around the team this season after their early season performances.

Looking back at Week 5 of college football, the Colorado Buffaloes pulled off the upset against the 14.5-point favorite, UCF Golden Knights, beating them 48-21.

The Heisman-level play they’ve gotten from their stars, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, on both sides of the football has set the tone for the team.

In the UCF game, Sanders threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per attempt, elevating himself into the early-season Heisman trophy race.

Additionally, his fellow teammate and Heisman trophy candidate, Travis Hunter, continued his historic season, logging nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown to go along with an interception on defense.

Their impact was prominent in Week 4 against Baylor. Sanders’ miracle throw to tie, and Hunter’s game-sealing forced fumble in overtime led to a win in Colorado’s first-ever game in the Big 12.

This season, Colorado looks like a team that can compete with anyone in the conference.

FAU transfer, LaJohntay Webster and Vanderbilt transfer, Will Sheppard, have helped with that case, whether it is securing game-deciding catches or bringing an energy that the Buffaloes lacked last season.

Their relatively hot start has caused fans to look further into the Big 12 to see if a Deion Sanders-led Buffaloes team could be in the conversation for a Big 12 championship berth.

However, coming off of a bye week, Colorado’s struggle against mobile quarterbacks has been a factor in questioning them as legitimate Big 12 contenders.

In Week 1, Cam Miller ran all over the Colorado defense, rushing for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns and carried his North Dakota State Bison to a near victory.

Following that, a few weeks later, in Week 4, the Buffaloes were faced with a similar problem as Sawyer Robertson rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown.

They couldn’t contain mobile quarterbacks, and going up against Avery Johnson right off the bye week, who is great at utilizing his legs, will show if they made the correct adjustments during the bye week.

Viewing their upcoming game slate, four of their next five opponents are fighting for a spot in the Big 12 championship game: a game that will determine who will represent the Big 12 in the college football playoff.

No. 18 Kansas State, unranked Arizona, unranked Texas Tech and No. 16 Utah can stand in the Buffaloes way.

This upcoming matchup against No. 18 Kansas State will be critical for Colorado as they try to keep an undefeated record in conference play and prove they belong as a power-four competitor.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email opd5073@psu.edu.