Can Colorado Football Finally Return to National Championship Glory This Season?

As I sit here watching the Colorado Buffaloes' spring practice highlights, I can't help but feel that familiar mix of hope and skepticism that comes with being a lifelong college football fan. Having followed this program through its glory days in the 1990s and the subsequent decades of disappointment, I find myself genuinely wondering—can Colorado football finally return to national championship glory this season? This question feels particularly poignant when I consider how regional pride can drive athletic programs, something that recently struck me when reading about coach Valenzuela's comments regarding the Cebu team's struggles in the MPBL. He admitted not following the league closely before taking his role, but as a Cebuano, his pride was hurt hearing about the team's subpar performances. That sentiment resonates deeply with me as a Colorado native—there's something about your home team's struggles that feels personal, that digs deeper than just wins and losses.

Looking at Colorado's current roster, there are legitimate reasons for optimism that I haven't felt in years. Coach Prime has brought in what analysts are calling a top-15 recruiting class nationally, including the number three ranked quarterback prospect in the country, something we haven't seen in Boulder since the days of Kordell Stewart. The transfer portal has been particularly kind to us, bringing in approximately 28 new players with Power Five experience, including seven starters from SEC programs. What's different this time isn't just the talent—it's the cultural shift. Practices have an intensity I haven't witnessed since the early 2000s, and players speak with a confidence that suggests they genuinely believe they can compete with the USCs and Oregons of the world. Still, having been burned by preseason hype before, I maintain a healthy skepticism about whether this roster has the depth to withstand the grueling Pac-12 schedule.

The schedule itself presents both opportunity and peril, something I've been analyzing with equal parts excitement and dread. We open against what should be a manageable non-conference slate, but then face what my calculations show to be the nation's fifth-toughest conference schedule. The back-to-back road games against Oregon and Texas in weeks six and seven will likely determine whether this season becomes special or merely satisfactory. Having watched Colorado football for over thirty years, I've learned that championship aspirations often die in these brutal stretches where depth and mental toughness matter more than star power. What gives me hope this year is the leadership—the team captains selected last week represent the most cohesive leadership group I've seen here since the 1996 team that nearly won it all.

Financial investments tell their own story, and the numbers here are telling. The athletic department has increased football spending by approximately 37% over the past two years, including $12.3 million dedicated specifically to facility upgrades and recruiting operations. As someone who's visited numerous Power Five programs, I can attest that Colorado's facilities now rival what I've seen at traditional powers like Alabama and Ohio State. This commitment matters—not just for player development, but for signaling to recruits that Colorado is serious about returning to prominence. The NIL collective has reportedly secured commitments totaling around $8 million for player compensation, which places us in the top quarter of programs nationally. These aren't the numbers of a program content with mediocrity.

Yet for all the tangible improvements, football remains a game of chemistry and momentum. What I've observed during my visits to practice is a cohesion that's been missing for years. The offensive line, which allowed 42 sacks last season, appears to have developed the communication and trust necessary to protect what could be a dynamic offense. The defensive secondary, which returns three starters from a unit that improved dramatically over the second half of last season, plays with a swagger that reminds me of those dominant Colorado defenses of the 1990s. These intangible elements—the way players celebrate each other's successes during drills, the accountability in film sessions—often separate good teams from great ones.

Returning to that idea of regional pride that Valenzuela expressed, I feel that same connection to Colorado's program. When the Buffaloes struggle, it feels personal—a reflection on our state and community. The excitement around Boulder is palpable in a way I haven't experienced since the McCartney era. Local businesses report that Colorado football merchandise sales have increased by roughly 68% compared to this time last year, and season ticket sales have already surpassed 2022's total by 42%. This groundswell of support matters—the energy at Folsom Field during big games provides a tangible home-field advantage that can swing close contests.

Realistically, the path to the national championship remains extraordinarily difficult. The playoff expansion helps, but Colorado would likely need to win the Pac-12 to secure a spot, meaning they'd probably need to go at least 11-1 in the regular season. Having studied the roster depth charts and schedule, I'd estimate their realistic ceiling is 10-2, which might be enough for a New Year's Six bowl but likely falls short of the playoff. Still, as someone who's watched college football for decades, I've learned that sometimes teams catch lightning in a bottle—the 2019 LSU team came from relative obscurity to dominate everyone, and the 2021 Cincinnati squad proved that non-traditional powers can crash the party. Why not Colorado? The pieces are there for a special season, even if the championship remains a long shot. What I know for certain is that for the first time in twenty years, Colorado football matters again, and that in itself feels like a victory.