“Don’t rank us, please. We’re good,” Deion Sanders joked during the post-game conference. But as fate would have it, his playful wish didn’t come true. The Buffaloes are back in the Associated Press Top 25! Following a solid 34-23 win over Cincinnati on Saturday night, Coach Prime’s team now holds the No. 23 spot in the latest AP rankings. But the lingering question remains: when exactly was the last time they were ranked?

In the 2023 season, the Buffs gave fans plenty of hope early on. By Week 2, they took down Nebraska 36-14 and landed at No. 22 in the AP rankings. Their momentum continued in Week 3 with a thrilling 43-35 double-overtime win over Colorado State, which bumped them to No. 19. But everything came crashing down in Week 4 when Oregon handed them a brutal loss, and the season spiraled to a 4-8 finish.

That brief stint in the Top 25 last season wasn’t an anomaly for the Buffaloes, though. The Buffs’ latest return to the Top 25 carries extra weight because of that rollercoaster past, proving that they still have what it takes to be among the top teams in the nation.

Even in 2020, the squad was prominently featured in the AP Top 25 rankings. In Week 12 of the collegiate football season, they were ranked No. 21, their highest position of the year. This rating was noteworthy because it signaled Colorado’s comeback to collegiate football dominance under new head coach Karl Dorrell following a number of difficult years. Despite being affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Buffs played well during the 2020 season, ending with a 4-2 record.

However, this year the accomplishment of the Buffs highlights their incredible comeback in addition to being Sanders’ first-ranked appearance. This season, Deion and Co. have won five of their last six games to grab a 6-2 record. They fought hard for this record, especially in the last game against Cincinnati, so it wasn’t an overnight accomplishment.

Coach Prime’s Buffs’ are bowl-eligible now!

In the last game against Cincinnati, with 153 yards and two TD grabs, Travis Hunter proved that he’s an exceptional player. Shedeur put forth yet another impressive performance, going 25/30 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. Following such a performance, Deion Sanders stated on Saturday night that he was pleased with his team’s handling of hardship and outside attention from commentators and the media. And with all these star players, Deion is turning things around at Colorado. In just his second year, he’s led the Buffaloes to a 4-1 start in the Big 12, a feat that seemed impossible not long ago.

Since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Colorado hadn’t even sniffed a bowl game. Now, they’re not only bowl-eligible but ranked #23 in the AP Poll. Sanders has the chance to break a long-standing drought and lead the Buffs to their first bowl win since 2004. With his star power and recruiting prowess, he’s breathed new life into the program, and the future looks bright for Colorado football.