🥥 Happy Wednesday, and happy National Coconut Day — a great addition to any dessert, beer or cocktail.

• 🎵 Sounds like: "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with highs in the 80s.

Today's newsletter is 731 words — a 3-minute read.

The hype has cooled, the roster has churned and the Colorado Buffaloes enter a fresh season with something new for the Coach Prime era: Low expectations.

Why it matters: Year 4 could reveal whether Sanders' nine-win 2024 season was the start of something real or the high-water mark of his CU tenure.

State of play: CU went 3–9 last year, including 1–8 in conference play.

• Sanders enters the season with new offensive and defensive coordinators and 43 incoming transfers after 64 players departed, including star tackle Jordan Seaton.

Reality check: A poll of Big 12 beat writers picked CU to finish 15th in the 16-team conference. The Buffs didn't receive a single vote in either the preseason AP or coaches polls.

The fan base may be losing faith, too.

• CU's season-ticket renewal rate fell from 98% to 78%, and for the first time since Sanders arrived, the Buffs aren't expected to sell out of season tickets.
• He's signed through 2029 and will be paid $11 million in both 2027 and 2028 and $12 million in 2029, before incentives.

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👀 Here are some potential keys to the season we're keeping an eye on:

🏈 Good JuJu: Sophomore Julian "JuJu" Lewis is the undisputed offensive leader after the Buffs' ill-fated experiment with transfer Kaidon Salter last year.

• Lewis threw for 589 yards, four TDs and no interceptions after replacing Salter late in the season.
• CU surrounded him with proven portal weapons, led by receivers Danny Scudero, Kam Perry and DeAndre Moore Jr.
• Reality check: The five-star QB recruit is just 18 after entering college a year early.

🏈 Buffal-O: New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, formerly of Sacramento State, will put Lewis in charge of his "Go-Go" offense.

• The scheme uses unusual backfield formations and was once described as "basketball on grass."
• CU has added highly touted former Alabama running back Richard Young, plus two former Sacramento State backs, Damian Henderson II and JaQuail Smith, who know the Go-Go offense.

🏈 Defensive stance: New defensive coordinator Chris Marve has a major rebuild on his hands.

• CU returns no full-time starters from a defense that allowed 425.7 yards per game last year.
• Reinforcements include former Tennessee safety Boo Carter and former Texas linebacker Liona Lefau.

What's next: The Buffs open tomorrow on ESPN at Georgia Tech as 6.5-point underdogs.

• 🐝 Tomorrow @ Georgia Tech
• 🐈‍⬛ Sept. 12 vs. Weber State
• 😾 Sept. 19 @ Northwestern
• 🐻 Sept. 26 @ Baylor
• 🔫 Oct. 3 vs. Texas Tech
• 🪶 Oct. 17 vs. Utah
• 🤠 Oct. 24 @ Oklahoma State
• 🐈 Oct. 31 vs. Kansas State
• 😈 Nov. 7 @ Arizona State
• 😾 Nov. 13 vs. Houston
• 🐾 Nov. 21 @ Cincinnati
• 🛡️ Nov. 28 vs. UCF

Sko Buffs

🏠 A student-housing developer is planning to build rental housing for nearly 600 CU Boulder students on the former Naropa University campus. (BizWest 🔑)

🔥 Lyons could be among the first communities in the state to require existing homes to implement wildfire mitigation measures. (Daily Camera 🔑)

🚨 A man reportedly launched his SUV into a CU parking lot and damaged at least 10 other vehicles early yesterday morning. (Daily Camera 🔑)

🗳️ The Republican candidate for state attorney general says he's among those affected by a recent voter breach in Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office. Griswold is the Democratic nominee for AG. (CPR)

Julian Lewis isn't CU's only young phenom preparing to fully step into the spotlight this fall.

The big picture: Ralphie VII, aka Brandy, is preparing for her first full season as the Buffs mascot.

• Brandy subbed in for her running-averse predecessor midseason and proved a natural fit.

What's next: CU starts on the road, so Ralphie will make her season debut next week at the Buffs home opener against Weber State.

• But if you can't wait, Ralphie will make a rare appearance at the CU women's soccer game tomorrow, the first time a Ralphie is appearing at Prentup Field since 2022.
• The main reason for her return to the pitch: "She just loves to run," CU spokesperson Steve Hurlbert told us.

🏈 Mitchell is setting the over/under on Buff field rushings at 1.5.

Thanks to Gigi Sukin for editing.