Not much changed at Colorado during Deion Sanders’ second year as head football coach.

The running game continued to struggle, finishing the 2024 season ranked last in the nation for rushing yards per game, just like in 2023. The offensive line still faced challenges in blocking, and penalties remained an issue; the Buffaloes had the eighth-most penalties in the country, totaling 100.

On a positive note, Colorado made significant progress by ending the 2024 season with a 9-4 record, despite a 36-14 defeat to BYU in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders deserves recognition for this achievement, while also being accountable for certain setbacks.

Here are the most notable successes and failures from his second season, which saw improvement from a 4-8 record in 2023 and a 1-11 finish prior to his hiring in December 2022.

Major Success #1: Recovering After Nebraska

The Buffaloes’ 28-10 loss to Nebraska on September 7 seemed alarming. At halftime, they were down 28-0, allowed six sacks, and managed only 16 rushing yards in their second game of the season. This performance mirrored the struggles of Sanders’ inaugural team in 2023.

However, Sanders took notice and helped the team avoid a late-season collapse like the one experienced last year. He emphasized the week’s theme: “How do you respond?”

In response, they won three consecutive games and ended the season tied for first in the Big 12 Conference. In contrast, last year they lost eight out of their last nine games—a testament to effective coaching.

Major Miss #1: Inconsistent Performances

Inconsistency plagued the Buffs, as they seemed to oscillate between being fiery and then disappearing during crucial periods, similar to last year.

They not only fell behind at Nebraska but also trailed 17-0 against Kansas and 20-0 at halftime in the Alamo Bowl. Furthermore, they nearly rallied in a game against Kansas State, taking a 28-24 lead only to succumb to critical plays shortly after.

These letdowns contributed to their defeats, and it’s up to Sanders to reduce these inconsistencies in 2025.

Major Success #2: Empowering Travis Hunter

Colorado managed to secure its second Heisman Trophy largely because Sanders allowed Travis Hunter the freedom to showcase his talents fully by playing both as a cornerback and a receiver. Few coaches would permit such dual roles due to perceived risks and unconventional approaches.

Yet Sanders, having played both ways himself previously, has demonstrated his openness to innovative strategies in college football.

Major Miss #2: The Ongoing Running Game Struggles

While having a talented quarterback like Shedeur Sanders masked some issues, it would benefit the team greatly if they could avoid finishing last in rushing yards for a third consecutive season. The team averaged 65.2 rushing yards this year, which was a decrease from last year’s 68.9.

The difficulty in resolving this problem can be traced back to another significant area of weakness for Sanders in 2024.

Major Success #3: Hiring Robert Livingston

A successful head coach knows how to delegate effectively and find the best assistants. For instance, after last season’s defensive coordinator left for Auburn, Sanders appointed Robert Livingston, who had been coaching defensive backs with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Although Livingston had no prior experience running a defense and was not a prominent name, he managed to coach both transfers and returning players to help the team lead the Big 12 Conference in quarterback sacks (39) and fumble recoveries (12).

Major Miss #3: Offensive Line Challenges

The problems with the running game and performance in the Alamo Bowl were often linked to blocking issues. Recognizing the need for improvement in his offensive line after they allowed the second-most sacks in the nation in 2023 (56), Sanders brought in nine transfers, including top offensive tackle recruit Jordan Seaton, who started every game as a freshman at left tackle and is expected to improve as a sophomore in 2025.

However, the team still gave up 43 sacks, the most in the Big 12. Many transfers on the offensive line did not perform adequately throughout the season due to injuries or underwhelming play, forcing the team to frequently shuffle their lineup, raising concerns about whether Sanders can resolve the situation with more new recruits and adjustments in 2025.

He has time to work on this issue as the Buffs will kick off their third season with Sanders on August 30 at home against Georgia Tech.