It’s the season opener and the last thing you’d want to see is some of the major players missing from the team. It’s no surprise that 2024 is the final year for Deion Sanders to prove that his team is relevant. That man has spent months reforming the entire O-line of the team with 6 new transfers and Jordan Seaton leading the bunch. However, Deion’s revamp and resurrection of the Buffs is starting to feel like the Titanic. All talk and no walk. Somehow, Coach Prime has managed to shake up the fanbase with his choice of players to start the year’s long fight to win back their relevancy.

Brian Howell took to X on August 30th to share the CU depth chart before the match and in it, some notable names were missing. Nikhai Hill-Green was not there on the squad. The LB from Charlotte Tyler Johnson was missing, and finally, Amari McNeill. While there is not much info present regarding Johnson, Hill-Green, and Amari not being there raises major questions. Hill-Green was the starter for the Wolverines back in 2021 and has some major experience in CFB. The kid racked in around 50 tackles and helped the Wolverines reach the playoffs back in 2021. Him not being on the depth chart means that Deion would lose out on some important veteran experience. Amari, on the other hand, made his mark when he played with the Vols last season. The kid brought in around seven tackles and also a QB hurry. He has the experience of playing with a senior-led defense lineup during his time at the Vols. This gives him a lot of experience to soak up.

However, the good thing is that the team’s offense and defense look solid. Will Sheppard, Jimmy Horn, and Travis Hunter as the WRs the team would have a solid grip on the field. We already know that Sheppard is a solid guy who has locked in more than 20MPH during a rush back at practice. He has the speed to match up with Shedeur’s accuracy. Horn, on the other hand, also showed his prowess when he managed to track and catch a 55-yard throw from Shedeur Sanders during the fall camp. Hunter is much stronger than before with his increased weight and presence on the field. The defense is also arranged well with a lot of depth. Chidoze Nwankwo, Trevor Wood, Shilo Sanders, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, and many more will carry over the defense for the team. Trained by Pat Shurmur, the defense line can cripple the Bison’s offense with ease. However, the eyes are still going to be on Shedeur Sanders.

Will Shedeur Sanders disappoint us?

NDSU HC himself went on to mention that Shedeur is probably the best QB they have played against. The kid has the accuracy and depth required to be the top QB in CFB however, will the ghosts of his past come back to haunt him? We all know at this point that Shedeur’s main problem is his defense. The kid can land some solid throws and TDs, however, he tends to hold on to the ball for far too long.

This, combined with the barebones O-line last year, made him the most sacked quarterback. We have seen him throw a massive 55-yard bomb during practice and we know that Pat Shurmur has helped the kid out with his defense. However, there are still clouds of doubt floating above. Only the game will prove if all the effort Coach Prime has put in will pay off or not.