The Colorado Buffaloes are officially in must-win mode. After back-to-back collapses against BYU and TCU, Deion Sanders and the Buffs find themselves winless in Big 12 play and sitting at 2-4 overall with six games left on the schedule.
The path to bowl eligibility remains possible, but the margin for error has vanished.
Two of Colorado’s final six games — including their next matchup against No. 22 Iowa State — come against ranked opponents. To earn a postseason bid, the Buffs must win at least four of their remaining contests. That means sharper execution, discipline, and a clear sense of identity must take hold now.
Here are three key areas that will determine whether Colorado plays in December — or watches from home.
1. Building Around the Offensive Line and Run Game
One of the few bright spots of Colorado’s rocky season has been the offensive line’s steady improvement. The unit has quietly become the foundation of a growing run game that’s kept the Buffs competitive even when the passing attack has sputtered.
After Saturday’s loss to TCU, Sanders praised the group’s resilience:
“They did their thing, and I’m proud of them. They want it. They’re highly upset. And I’m proud that they care that much.”
That passion has translated into production. With the line showing marked growth in both pass protection and run blocking, backs like Dallan Hayden, Micah Welch, Simeon Price, and Drelon Miller have added much-needed physicality and balance.
When the Buffs lean on their run game, they control tempo, protect quarterback Kaidon Salter, and keep opposing offenses on the sideline — a proven formula that produced early leads against Georgia Tech, BYU, and TCU.
Now, it’s about commitment. Establishing the run early and maintaining it across four quarters must be the team’s offensive identity moving forward.
2. Cutting Down Costly Mistakes
If there’s a single thread running through Colorado’s losses, it’s self-inflicted damage. Turnovers, penalties, blown assignments, and mental lapses have repeatedly flipped momentum at critical moments.
Against TCU, a fourth-quarter special teams miscue turned a tied game into a deficit Colorado never recovered from.
For the Buffs to climb back to .500, they’ll need to clean up the mental errors and stay disciplined in situational football. The Big 12 doesn’t allow many second chances, and CU has been burning theirs too quickly.
With upcoming matchups against No. 22 Iowa State, Utah, Arizona, and No. 21 Arizona State, execution will define whether they rise or fall.
Last season, Baylor started 2-4 before rallying with six straight wins. A similar turnaround isn’t out of reach — but only if Colorado learns to stop beating itself.
3. Learning How to Close Out Games
Perhaps the most painful storyline of Colorado’s season has been its inability to finish. In three of their four losses, the Buffs built double-digit leads — only to see them disappear.
Turnovers, conservative play-calling, and inconsistent focus have prevented Colorado from sealing victories.
If this team wants to stay alive in the postseason race, it must find its killer instinct. That means finishing drives, extending leads, and refusing to let opponents back into games.
Learning how to close could be the difference between a six-win bowl team and another disappointing November collapse.
The Bottom Line: Execution Will Define the Season
The road ahead is brutal. With six games remaining, every snap carries postseason implications. But the blueprint is clear:
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Lean on the offensive line and the run game
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Eliminate costly mistakes
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Finish games strong
If the Buffs can do those three things, their bowl hopes remain alive. If not, it will mark Coach Prime’s second season in three years in Boulder without a postseason appearance.
