Deion Sanders is going all in for the Colorado Buffs’ upcoming season. The team has gone through a major revamp in the offseason adding NFL experience to its ranks. On the field, they have been sweating it out as they transitioned to the 16-team Big 12. A good first impression in their new conference is on top of their to-do list as they aim for the Big 12 Championship game. But is 2024 going to pose a bigger challenge to Colorado than 2023? A look at their schedule suggests so.

While they boast two of the potential Heisman Trophy candidates in Travis Hunter and Sheduer Sanders, the Buffs fans won’t be pleased with the schedule they have. This especially becomes a problem as they look to improve their disappointing 4-8 record from last season. A poor start this term will do their confidence no good, especially given the fact they won only one game out of their last nine toward the end of the season.

CBS Sports journalist Shehan Jeyarajah just dropped the 2024 Big 12 strength of schedule rankings from hardest to easiest with Colorado at No. 1. According to the IG post by cbssportscfb on August 2, “Colorado walks into the Big 12 with the toughest schedule in the league

To begin with, Colorado is set to face an FCS program as the opener to the 2024 regular season. It’s not just any FCS team; it’s the North Dakota State Bisons who have nine national championships under their belt. Last year they went 11-4 and lost in overtime of the FCS semifinals. This was just the third time they fell short of the FCS title game in the past 13 years. There is little doubt that they will start the next season as title contenders.

Further highlighting the challenge awaiting Coach Prime’s side Jeyarajah’s noted, “The Buffaloes face a perfect storm of difficult games mixed with tricky curveballs. Games against FCS power North Dakota State, rival Colorado State, and a revamped Nebraska squad are all leasable in the nonconference. Five of the top six teams in the conference are on the back half of the schedule, including Utah, Kansas, and Oklahoma State to close the year. There are no weeks off.”

The second game for CU will have them face off against Nebraska. Following a 36-14 loss to CU in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign, Nebraska won five of its next six games. However, needing just one more win to get to a bowl, they ended up losing their last four games. Still, head coach Matt Rhule has urged his team to use that as motivation and they will be a dangerous team.

Following the clash against Nebraska, the Buffs will take on Colorado State. CSU put up an improved showing last year with a 5-7 record, though they did lose to the Buffs 43-35 in double-overtime in Boulder. On the other hand, CSU averaged 26.1 last season almost double what they did in 2022. Moreover, only eight teams threw for more yards per game than CSU (306.5) last year. The Buffs have cause to worry.

Last season the Boulder program took on TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State in the first three games and won all three. However, their form nose-dived after that as they could only muster one win out of their last nine games. Hence, a good start will go a long way this season.

Their schedule doesn’t get easier and they play Utah, Kansas, and Oklahoma in a three-game stretch from November 16-29.

In order to improve the side, Sanders has once again made changes to the Buffs roster and revamped their coaching structure. Speaking on the “All the Smoke podcast on April 25, Sanders talked about what has changed for the Buffs after a disappointing season, “I went out and got some pros man, my offensive coordinator, my defensive coordinator and several physicians. In college ball, we get 10 hired positions plus the coach it’s 11. Seven of the ten come from the NFL, we’ve got NFL experience.”

Sanders retained Pat Shurmur as the Buffs’ offensive coordinator for 2024 and he brings plenty of NFL experience having served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants for two seasons each. Shurmur’s NFL resume also includes Broncos, Eagles, Rams and Vikings.

Then there is Robert Livingston, who was signed as defensive coordinator in February. Livingston was serving as the Cincinnati Bengals’ secondary coach before he decided to make the move to Boulder. He worked with the NFL side for 12 seasons which included an initial spell as a scout. His experience will be valuable as the side looks to make a splash in the Big 12.

So Coach Prime is ready, but he wasn’t pleased about his side’s rigid schedule and let his feelings known, albeit a little light heartedly.

Deion Sanders is “mad” at Rick George for the 2024 season opener

Back on July 10, Deion Sanders expressed his frustration in a playful banter directed at Colorado’s Athletic Director’s decision. Rick George seemed to have been riding the boat of bold confidence when he scheduled the FCS powerhouse North Dakota State with the Buffs on August 29 even though these schedules are prepared way before the season starts.

Sanders joked, “I’m mad at Rick right now for putting them on the schedule to open up with them. Can you give me a layup?”

Deion Sanders is aware of the challenge that the Bisons will give the Buffaloes. If you’re not already aware, in addition to their successful records, this FCS elite has produced several NFL players including Trey Lance and Carson Wentz, among others. Last year, they played worse than usual but still ended up with an 11-4 record in contrast with the Buffs’ 4-8 record.

As per ESPN, Colorado is a favored team. The difference is that, unlike your regular Power Four/FCS openers, Colorado comes in at a single-digit favorite minus -8 to be exact. Time can only tell what’s waiting for Colorado down the line.