The Colorado Buffaloes have been making waves this offseason with a highly praised roster overhaul, but don't expect that to translate into preseason hype just yet. In Jon Wilner's latest post-spring Big 12 power rankings, the Buffs find themselves near the bottom of the conference at No. 15—a tough pill to swallow for a team that's been busy retooling.

Wilner, a respected college football insider, acknowledges the challenge of evaluating Colorado given the whirlwind of change: over 40 new transfers and an almost entirely new coaching staff. The Buffs are coming off a disappointing 3-9 season, and that history is hard to ignore. "Speaking of downward trajectories, the Buffaloes collapsed in 2025 and now enter a crucial year for coach Deion Sanders," Wilner writes. He points to the offensive line as a persistent weakness—a familiar refrain for CU fans—and notes the loss of star tackle Jordan Seaton to LSU as a major setback. Perhaps most telling, Wilner highlights that Colorado didn't produce a single NFL Draft pick last month, raising questions about talent evaluation and development under Sanders.

While the skeptics are loud, there's a quieter optimism brewing in Boulder. This year's roster and coaching staff feel more cohesive than the chaotic 2024 group, and the offseason moves have been widely commended. The Buffs just need to prove it on the field. Wilner does give Colorado a slight edge over Iowa State, whose roster was gutted by former coach Matt Campbell's departure, but that's cold comfort for a program aiming higher.

At the top of the rankings, BYU surprisingly leads the pack, followed by Houston and Texas Tech—the latter dealing with quarterback Brendan Sorsby's off-field issues. For Colorado, the climb back to relevance starts with winning the games they're expected to lose. With a revamped squad and a chip on their shoulder, the Buffs are ready to surprise some doubters this season.