2024 Colorado Football Projections on the HG

Feb 28

Feb 28 2024 Colorado Football Projections on the HG

Jake Wimberly

Spencer Winans Contributing

What’s to like:

Coach Prime has been busy in the portal yet again this offseason. He’s signed the 2nd most total commits, tied for 3rd most 4-star transfers, and is currently a top 5 ranked team in the portal for the second year in a row. While it’s not last year’s historic 51 transfers, it should still show signs of progress.

Shedeur Sanders is tabbed to be one of the top QBs in the country this season. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 4th best returning QB in the country for the 2024-25 season,

Travis Hunter will be looking to have a fully healthy season and will have more help in 2024.

What’s not to like:

While being in the Big 12 will benefit the Buffs if they succeed, the schedule is nothing to scoff at. Colorado had the 44th ranked Strength of Schedule in 2023-24, but that rank is sure to go up into the teens as the Buffaloes come in from the Pac-12.

The Buffaloes will be operating with a new offensive and defensive coordinator for the second straight season. This does not mean that they will be successful. In fact, based on last season, the new staff will make Buffs fans think the opposite may be in store.

What does the Hourglass say?

2024 Colorado – Big 12 (6-6)

Four-year analytic percentage of Colorado = 75 percent

2024 Colorado Analytics

National Recruiting Ranking (three-year metric): 39th - 9 spots outside of the “Playoff Bust” boundary

National Coaching Ranking: Deion Sanders - 57th in the country, 16th (Last) in Big 12;

2024 Coaching Value= 2.5 (average 2023 Power 4 coaching value= 8.35)

Deion Sanders is considered to be an almost unmatched recruiter, but is yet to prove himself as a coach on the FBS D1 level.

ODE Analytics for 2023:

Offensive Rank: 60th

Defensive Rank: 97th

Quarterback Play: Shedeur Sanders, ranked 3rd in the Power 4, 1st in the Big 12; 2024 QB value= 28.2. Well above the (Power 4 average- 14.78)

Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Colorado has a 4 on a scale of 1-5, skill talent that is the best in the Big 12.

From Vegas:

Colorado ATS in 2023: 7-4-1

Colorado at home: 4-2

Colorado on the road: 3-2-1

Colorado at neutral site: 0-0

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The word to use when predicting what the Colorado Buffaloes will look like in 2024 is polarizing. There is really no for sure way of telling what the Buffs will be. Talent-wise, Colorado could be a sleeper pick for the Big 12 title game. But the same could’ve been said for last year’s team in the Pac-12, and they finished 4-8.

2024 Schedule Analysis:

Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.