Honestly, if you looked at the Colorado Buffaloes 2024 football schedule back in August, you probably thought it was either going to be a total circus or a massive redemption arc. There was no middle ground. People were still arguing about whether Deion Sanders was a "real" coach or just a marketing genius with a whistle.
Then the season actually happened.
It was wild. It was loud. It was deeply confusing at times. But by the time the dust settled in San Antonio at the Alamo Bowl, the Buffs had fundamentally changed the conversation around Boulder. They didn't just survive their first year back in the Big 12; they almost broke it.
The Chaos of the Early Slate
The season started with a heart attack. August 29 against North Dakota State was supposed to be a "welcome to the season" party at Folsom Field. Instead, it was a 31-26 nail-biter where Shedeur Sanders had to look like a magician just to keep the chains moving.
Then came the Nebraska game.
Look, we have to talk about Lincoln. It was ugly. A 28-10 loss where the offensive line looked like a group of guys who had just met in the parking lot five minutes before kickoff. People started writing the obituaries for the "Prime Era" right then and there. The critics were loud. They were saying the 2024 season was going to be a repeat of the 4-8 collapse from the year before.
But then things got weirdly good.
Turning the Corner: The September Surge
Something clicked in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Beating Colorado State 28-9 was expected, but the way they did it felt different. The defense, led by Shilo Sanders and a relentless Travis Hunter, actually started getting stops.
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The real "moment," though? It was the Baylor game on September 21.
If you weren't watching that game, you missed the most "Colorado" win in history. A 38-31 overtime thriller that featured a genuine Hail Mary from Shedeur to LaJohntay Wester to force OT. Then, Travis Hunter—because of course it was him—forced a fumble at the goal line to win it.
Why the Big 12 Move Mattered
Going into the Colorado Buffaloes 2024 football schedule, there was a lot of talk about the physical toll of the Big 12. People thought the Buffs would get bullied in the trenches.
The UCF game proved them wrong.
Colorado went into Orlando as underdogs and absolutely dismantled the Knights 48-21. It was arguably the most complete game of the Deion Sanders era. Shedeur was surgical. The run game—usually non-existent—actually showed signs of life. Most importantly, the "Louis Vuitton" players were outworking the "blue collar" teams.
A Look at the Full 2024 Results
You can't really appreciate the rollercoaster without seeing the raw numbers. Here is how the 12-game regular season actually played out for the Buffs:
The season opened with that 31-26 win over North Dakota State, followed by the dismal 10-28 loss at Nebraska. They bounced back in Fort Collins with a 28-9 win over Colorado State. Then came the Big 12 gauntlet: the 38-31 OT miracle against Baylor and the 48-21 statement win at UCF.
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October was a mix of heartbreak and dominance. They lost a 28-31 heartbreaker to Kansas State at home—a game they probably should have won if not for a few late defensive lapses. But they responded by crushing Arizona 34-7 and handling Cincinnati 34-23.
November was when the hype reached a fever pitch. A 41-27 road win at Texas Tech and a 49-24 blowout of Utah put Colorado in the conversation for the Big 12 Championship. A late-season 21-37 stumble against Kansas in Kansas City hurt, but they finished the regular season with a 52-0 absolute destruction of Oklahoma State on Senior Day.
The Travis Hunter Factor
We can't talk about the Colorado Buffaloes 2024 football schedule without talking about the guy who played almost every single snap. Travis Hunter winning the Heisman Trophy wasn't just a "Colorado thing"—it was a college football milestone.
96 receptions. 1,258 yards. 15 touchdowns.
And he did that while being the best cornerback in the country.
The stats are one thing, but the endurance was the story. Most players are gassed by the fourth quarter. Hunter was still sprinting downfield in the cold November air against Utah like it was the first day of spring camp. He finished with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. It’s the kind of season we probably won't see again for another 50 years.
Shedeur's Final Act
Shedeur Sanders ended the year with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. Yeah, he took some sacks—though fewer than the 52 he endured in 2023—but his completion percentage (74%) was elite. He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for a reason.
The critics say he held onto the ball too long. Maybe. But when you have a quarterback who can drop a dime 50 yards downfield while being chased by three 300-pound defensive linemen, you live with the occasional sack.
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The Alamo Bowl Letdown
The season ended on a bit of a sour note. Facing BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl, the Buffs just looked... tired. It was a 14-36 loss where the offense never really got out of first gear.
Maybe it was the distraction of the NFL Draft talk. Maybe it was just a long season catching up to a thin roster. Either way, finishing 9-4 was still a massive leap from where this program was two years ago.
What Most People Get Wrong About 2024
The biggest misconception is that this team was just "hype."
If you actually look at the Colorado Buffaloes 2024 football schedule, they beat five teams that went to bowl games. They weren't just beating up on cupcakes. They went into Lubbock and Orlando and won convincingly.
Coach Prime proved he could build a culture that survives adversity. Losing to Nebraska and Kansas State could have broken a lesser team. Instead, this group kept reloading.
Actionable Takeaways for Buffs Fans
If you’re looking back at this season to understand what's next, keep these points in mind:
- The Trench Warfare is Real: The O-line improved in 2024, but the 2025 season will live or die on whether they can replace Jordan Seaton's eventual departure and find more depth.
- The "Two-Way" Blueprint: Travis Hunter proved it's possible. Watch for Colorado to try and recruit more "athletes" who can play both sides, though nobody will likely match Hunter's 100+ snaps per game.
- Life After Shedeur: The 2024 season was a masterclass in QB play. The transition to the next starter—whether it's a transfer or a young gun like Julian Lewis—will be the biggest storyline in Boulder for the next 12 months.
The 2024 season wasn't perfect, but it was exactly what Colorado needed to prove they belong in the national spotlight. They aren't just a social media phenomenon anymore. They're a problem for the rest of the Big 12.
Next Steps for the Offseason:
You should keep a close eye on the spring transfer portal window. Coach Prime has already hinted that the roster "makeover" isn't done, especially on the defensive interior. If they can land two more high-level defensive tackles, that 9-4 record might look like a floor rather than a ceiling for 2026.