The importance of 2025

[Buffnik]

The narrative right now from skeptics is that Coach Prime has a lot of flaws as a HC and that he has only won due to overwhelming talent.

Having the Heisman winner dominating the opponent's CB1and WR1 every week plus the best QB in college football was only good for a 9-4 record in 2024.

So what happens without those guys in 2025?

I think that if the 2025 season results in 7 or more wins, we can feel very confident that the program has been established and is building into a contender. Because looking at the roster, this is really a group that sets up for 2026 with where we would expect the OL and QB play to be then.

I'm a little anxious. Similar to that feeling I had during the Baylor game like the program is teetering on an inflection point.

I think the foundation for this season's success or failure will be whether our OL and DL are both top third in the Big 12.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Funny how when Prime wins off superior talent, it's an issue. But when Kirby, Saban, Ryan Day, Jim Harbaugh, James Franklin, etc win off superior talent, well that's just amazing coaching.

 

[manhattanbuff]

I don’t see the doom and gloom in 2025 at all. In many ways, next year’s team will be a better team than this year’s team because you’ll have superior depth at relevant positions and more balance offensively.

There’s a long way to go in roster building, but as of today, next year’s team will be very strong.

 

[4BienemyTDs]

2025-2026 is a really spectacular period for building a Big12/CFP team. 2026 looks like a serious season for greatness. They are not taking as many 1 and done guys for 2025 and really want something built for 2026.

 

[Darth Snow]

I'm looking forward to a lot more normal scheme wise. We were far too much boom or bust for my temperament this year. If we keep upgrading talent in the portal I don't see why another bowl year is unreasonable.

 

[Not Sure]

I’ve said it before but I’ll repeat : I’m looking forward to seeing what they do when they’re not trying to pad the numbers of two specific players. I’m not upset with the results, but I feel we can be a lot better when we aren’t playing hero ball.

 

[hokiehead]

I'm still under the impression Sanders is here to dominate. I expect nothing less than a Big 12 championship and a CFP invite in 2025.

The pressure is on HCDS, and he put it there.

 

[hawg1]

Daddy ball goes away. That’s a good thing. It really is. Somebody called it a normal scheme above. I hope so, with a really creative OC and an OL coach than can design and coach a run game. Hart goes. Or at least had a new role. Flea too. Prime gets a Zimmer like consultant. Things look good for 25 to me. And, with changes, the trajectory continues.

 

[Buffnik]

Daddy ball goes away. That’s a good thing. It really is. Somebody called it a normal scheme above. I hope so, with a really creative OC and an OL coach than can design and coach a run game. Hart goes. Or at least had a new role. Flea too. Prime gets a Zimmer like consultant. Things look good for 25 to me. And, with changes, the trajectory continues.

So little motion, play action or zone read in the 2024 offense. I've never seen anything like it.

 

[GRM]

Although we still need some players, I anticipate that the D will keep getting better. Year 2 under BL should be a progression and less of a new install. Agree with Darth Snow that a "more normal" or consistent O scheme can pay dividends. The O may have growing pains, however if the D progresses we will have a decent 2025 season, and ideally look forward to a special 2026.

 

[J.R. Ewing]

So little motion, play action or zone read in the 2024 offense. I've never seen anything like it.

It was a bad scheme with abysmal play calling and it underperformed the talent on that side of the ball.

 

[patebuff]

This program was built around Shedeur and Travis. It'll be interesting to see how Prime adjusts without those two.

They absolutely have to hit on the oline coach and talent in 2025 at the position.

 

[Bison]

2025-2026 is a really spectacular period for building a Big12/CFP team. 2026 looks like a serious season for greatness. They are not taking as many 1 and done guys for 2025 and really want something built for 2026.

Agree that 2025 would be used to build for 2026.

 

[MtnBuff]

Agree that 2025 would be used to build for 2026.

25 is building for 26 but it is important not to take a significant step back.

They need to be solidly in a bowl (8 wins or better) and be competitive in all their games.

The OL should be much better and with taking the running game more seriously this should happen.

A very positive side benefit of being more balanced on offense is that the defense will see much more running looks in practice and be better prepared to deal with it in games. This year when we saw solid running attacks we had a hard time dealing with them.

We need that the perception of the program for the public and potential recruits be that we are a first tier program, a legitimate place to win games. Can't afford for people to be able to promote the narative that this was all about a couple of stars and no substance.

 

[Robert Sorell]

I don’t see the doom and gloom in 2025 at all. In many ways, next year’s team will be a better team than this year’s team because you’ll have superior depth at relevant positions and more balance offensively.

There’s a long way to go in roster building, but as of today, next year’s team will be very strong.

I think it will be a better team, but not having a seasoned, elite QB, could be worth 3 wins a season when you're in a lot of close games.

I don't rhino the pieces are there to be a team that isn't in a fair share of tight games, yet. So maybe a better overall team, but not necessarily a better record.

 

[Buffnik]

I think where we need to be in 2025 is 25+ points scored gives us a 75%+ win probability. We need the defense to be salty, the offense to sustain drives and the coaches to be able to play for field position.

 

[manhattanbuff]

I think it will be a better team, but not having a seasoned, elite QB, could be worth 3 wins a season when you're in a lot of close games.

I don't rhino the pieces are there to be a team that isn't in a fair share of tight games, yet. So maybe a better overall team, but not necessarily a better record.

Salter is elite.

 

[buffaholic]

Funny how when Prime wins off superior talent, it's an issue. But when Kirby, Saban, Ryan Day, Jim Harbaugh, James Franklin, etc win off superior talent, well that's just amazing coaching.

These other teams you cite were very complete and deep teams. Superior talent across the board. Year after year. Many many wins.

9-4 was ugly at times. SS and TH were elite and even generational talents IMO. And they were both his sons.
CP does not have any more sons. So that was a one time thing. It's an open question in my head as well.
I happen to think he can get it done and I'd hire him tomorrow for about any non-elite team.

CP has vastly upgraded our roster. Vastly.
He's proven he can recruit period.
He's built a good staff.

My big question mark is Shurmur. I constantly remind myself that the guy had a NFL career that would suggest he can't be as bad as the offense looks. He was an OL/OC coach in the NFL, for a long time. This all does not make any sense to me. I've never seen an Oline flounder this bad and I can't let go of Shurmur on this.

The OL has to be fixed and upgraded. Sure there's some holes on D but they will plug those.
What the hell can we expect from the Oline? It's all about that group.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

These other teams you cite were very complete and deep teams. Superior talent across the board. Year after year. Many many wins.

9-4 was ugly at times. SS and TH were elite and even generational talents IMO. And they were both his sons.
CP does not have any more sons. So that was a one time thing. It's an open question in my head as well.
I happen to think he can get it done and I'd hire him tomorrow for about any non-elite team.

CP has vastly upgraded our roster. Vastly.
He's proven he can recruit period.
He's built a good staff.

My big question mark is Shurmur. I constantly remind myself that the guy had a NFL career that would suggest he can't be as bad as the offense looks. He was an OL/OC coach in the NFL, for a long time. This all does not make any sense to me. I've never seen an Oline flounder this bad and I can't let go of Shurmur on this.

The OL has to be fixed and upgraded. Sure there's some holes on D but they will plug those.
What the hell can we expect from the Oline? It's all about that group.

My point was simply about the argument that Prime is only winning with having superior talent.

 

[Bison]

Defense will have to be ready to go since CU opens the season against Haynes King & GT. King was the starting QB for aTm when they played CU in Denver before he broke his leg. Will be his third season as starting QB for the Yellow Jackets.

 

[Not Sure]

I’ll also point out that the OL looked like garbage at times because Shedeur held the ball for way, way too long. He didn’t do his OL any favors and made them look worse than they were.

 

[Not Sure]

He held the ball too long because a sack doesn’t look as bad on his stats as an incomplete pass. So he played hero ball. All the time.

 

[Bread]

So little motion, play action or zone read in the 2024 offense. I've never seen anything like it.

BYU’s scheme looked like a masterclass compared to ours. The way they used motion to set up throwback screens or counters against the flow of the defense was beautiful. But when you look at it objectively, it was not that much different from a lot of college offenses. Was just so stark because of how little we do.

 

[Matt]

I'm a CU fan. Any season with 6 or more wins is reason to celebrate.

 

[manhattanbuff]

BYU’s scheme looked like a masterclass compared to ours. The way they used motion to set up throwback screens or counters against the flow of the defense was beautiful. But when you look at it objectively, it was not that much different from a lot of college offenses. Was just so stark because of how little we do.

Their real victory was in the number of looks they gave Shedeur (many they’ve hardly put on tape this year).

 

[Buffnik]

Their real victory was in the number of looks they gave Shedeur (many they’ve hardly put on tape this year).

It helps to have an older team and a month to prepare.

 

[leftybuff]

After two seasons, the view from 10,000 feet looks like this for me.

CP was one of only a couple of HC's that could bring CU back from the abyss. Maybe Cignetti, or a unicorn like Urban, Kiffin or Saban, none of whom are coming here.

So visibility, money and flash are off the charts. That is great.

The talent level is way better, also great.

Heisman, 9 wins (my predicted ceiling for the year), all in the books and putting CU back on the national map.

OL remains problematic. It is a chicken and egg and another egg problem. Is it scheme, coaching or a QB that holds the ball too long/plays to pad stats/heroball/won't throw it away? For me, a little of all three.

2025 will probably be a step back, but I look for 7-8 wins.

Bottom line, best player in CFB, completely new roster picked by the staff through the portal and probably the best QB in CFB and CU is 13-12, barely over .500 with CP at the helm. I'll probably catch grief, but I expected better.

The bowl game was an embarrassment. BYU coached circles around CU, there is no way that team is more talented than CU and I put the loss on the staff. Prep and scheme are lacking and CU has what as a signature win? TCU? Much more sizzle that steak.

2025 is when we see whether CP can put together a staff that can coach or if he just out recruits everybody. If it is recruiting only, 9 W's may be the ceiling. Too many talented teams with good coaching out there to do much better than that. I am looking at you ASU.

I am still bullish on CU and CP, but there are some pretty glaring shortcomings.

 

[Not Sure]

If 9 wins is our new celling, so be it. I'm not complaining about a 9-win season and I never will. Thing is, no matter how much talent you have on your team, there will always be 2-3 teams on your schedule that have just as much, if not more. Prime will need to figure out how to properly game plan and motivate in games where he can't just trot out the bigger, faster players and roll to an easy win.

Remember that Prime is still in a learning curve, too. I wouldn't bet against him. I like our chances and I feel very confident in the leadership we have in place currently.

 

[skibum]

After two seasons, the view from 10,000 feet looks like this for me.

CP was one of only a couple of HC's that could bring CU back from the abyss. Maybe Cignetti, or a unicorn like Urban, Kiffin or Saban, none of whom are coming here.

So visibility, money and flash are off the charts. That is great.

The talent level is way better, also great.

Heisman, 9 wins (my predicted ceiling for the year), all in the books and putting CU back on the national map.

OL remains problematic. It is a chicken and egg and another egg problem. Is it scheme, coaching or a QB that holds the ball too long/plays to pad stats/heroball/won't throw it away? For me, a little of all three.

2025 will probably be a step back, but I look for 7-8 wins.

Bottom line, best player in CFB, completely new roster picked by the staff through the portal and probably the best QB in CFB and CU is 13-12, barely over .500 with CP at the helm. I'll probably catch grief, but I expected better.

The bowl game was an embarrassment. BYU coached circles around CU, there is no way that team is more talented than CU and I put the loss on the staff. Prep and scheme are lacking and CU has what as a signature win? TCU? Much more sizzle that steak.

2025 is when we see whether CP can put together a staff that can coach or if he just out recruits everybody. If it is recruiting only, 9 W's may be the ceiling. Too many talented teams with good coaching out there to do much better than that. I am looking at you ASU.

I am still bullish on CU and CP, but there are some pretty glaring shortcomings.

I find it interesting that you don't think CP (or anyone else on staff) can learn and grow - you only see adding/changing staff as how coaching can improve.

Many of them (including CP) have <3 seasons coaching at the highest levels, and <5 at college (or sometimes any) level.

I think they can all learn and grow.

 

[leftybuff]

I find it interesting that you don't think CP (or anyone else on staff) can learn and grow - you only see adding/changing staff as how coaching can improve.

Many of them (including CP) have <3 seasons coaching at the highest levels, and <5 at college (or sometimes any) level.

I think they can all learn and grow.

I don't think that was my gist. To repeat, next year is when we find out their coaching chops. I don't think they are incapable of growth, but at the same time we have seen some of the same issues continue uncorrected. I think it only natural to wonder.

I think CP has been awesome for CU. I am thrilled with a 9 win season. But I didn't set the bar at dominate, he did. I really hope he gets CU there. I feel free to comment on the hurdles that block that goal.