Buffs begin second season under Coach Prime with raised expectations

State of play: It's a game that, at least on paper, the Buffs should win.

• The Bison play in the second tier of college football, but they aren't cupcakes: The team has won nine FCS national championships since 2011.

Flashback: Longtime Buff fans will recall CU's memorable losses against FCS schools, including Sacramento State in 2012 and Montana State in 2006 — both in Boulder.

Context: Second-year head coach Deion Sanders — who made headlines recently over CU's decision to ban a Denver Post columnist from asking questions — is still as boastful as ever despite a 4-8 finish in 2023.

• Sanders added former NFL coaches Robert Livingston and Pat Shurmur to his staff as offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively.

What they're saying: "I love what I'm seeing on a day-to-day basis, not only from the players but from the staff as well," Sanders told reporters during a Sunday press conference.

• "I'm surrounded by a bunch of pros who know how to attack the game."

The bottom line: Starting the season with a win is no longer the exception, it's the expectation for the Buffs, who are newly in the Big 12 this season and guided by a coach whose optimism hasn't waned.

What's next: The 6pm game will appear on ESPN.