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There’s no shortage of excitement leading into the 2024 college football season: Teams are jumping into new conferences, the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams, and, best of all, EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game is back, enabling a whole new generation of BarcaLounger Bart Starrs to chase their Heisman dreams.
That anticipation crackles throughout Colorado’s top programs, as Deion Sanders looks to prove he can silence critics (without having to censor them), the Colorado School of Mines looks to finally land that elusive national championship, and Air Force Academy coach Troy Calhoun looks to keeping running (and winning) with a slate of new starters this year.
Air Force Academy
Team Preview: In 2023, the Falcons did what the Falcons do: They ran the ball, played great defense, and won. Despite a late stumble, losing four of their final five games, and quashed talk of a perfect season, head coach Troy Calhoun’s cadets still managed nine wins, including a victory in the Armed Forces Bowl. The problem is that basically every starter from last year’s campaign is now “keeping up foreign relations” or otherwise serving our country, so Calhoun will have to rely on a new class of recruits to continue the Falcons’ winning ways.
Player To Watch: At other schools, poor fullbacks are typically asked to block as halfbacks get the glory. Not at Air Force, where only two years ago the Falcons’ Brad Roberts led the nation in rushing from the fullback position. Junior Dylan Carson could see similar success this season after amassing nearly 500 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry, in 2023 as a backup.
Colorado School of Mines
Team Preview: The most successful college football program in the state right now, the Orediggers have appeared in the NCAA Division II national championship game two years in a row—albeit they lost both times. Opposing coaches expect Mines to thrive again this year, ranking the team fifth in the nation to start the year, though the Orediggers have to replace departed quarterback John Matocha, who holds the record for most career touchdowns in college football history.
Player To Watch: Head coach Pete Sterbick hasn’t named a QB1 yet, but whoever replaces Matocha will benefit from the fact that he won’t have to throw against cornerback Jackson Zimmermann on game days. The Highlands Ranch redshirt junior intercepted a team-high six passes last year, his first as a starter, nabbing first-team All-American honors. We’re not sure what’s more impressive: that or his 3.46 GPA as a mechanical engineering major.
Colorado State University
Team Preview: It’s somewhat telling that the Rams’ 2023 highlight came in a loss—when it pushed in-state rival (and perpetual big brother) CU to two overtimes, before falling 35-43. Even that contest is best remembered for what happened before the game, when coach Jay Norvell beefed with Deion Sanders over shades. Nevertheless, the Rams improved from three to five wins in Norvell’s second season and, should an aerial attack that ranked first in the conference in 2023 continue its ascent, are poised to play in their first bowl game since 2017.
Player To Watch: As a redshirt freshman, quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi made his first start against CU and torched the Buffs for 367 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, which became a theme during his breakout season, when he tossed almost as many picks as he did scores. Still, he nabbed All-Mountain West honorable mention, and will benefit in 2024 from the return of Tory Horton, who led the conference in receptions per game last season.
Colorado State University Pueblo
Team Preview: The ThunderWolves (not to be confused with the ThunderCats), stumbled to a 1-3 start in 2023, before riding a prolific aerial attack on a seven-game win streak to close out the season. The Pack should be able to capitalize on that momentum thanks to nine returning starters on offense, including Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year, offensive lineman Senon Chapple.
Player To Watch: One of the two starters that second-year coach Philip Vigil must replace on offense is the quarterback. Fortunately, the new signal caller will find a welcome target in 6-3 receiver Reggie Retzlaff, who set a single-season touchdown record for the ThunderWolves in 2023 with 12.
University of Northern Colorado
Team Preview: The good news is that the Bears will return 11 starters from the 2023 team. The bad news is that the 2023 team went 0-11.
Players To Watch: Smoky Hill High School’s David Hoage earned third-team All-American honors in 2021 after setting a school record for sacks (10.5) and ranking third in the nation for tackles for loss (22). The Denver native then lost the next two years to injury. Finally healthy again, Hoage could pair with fellow Denverite Marcus Howard, who had six sacks and made the conference’s honorable mention team in 2023, to form one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the Big Sky Conference.
University of Colorado Boulder
Team Preview: There are two ways to look at Deion Sanders’ first year in Boulder. A pessimist might say that Coach Prime delivered exactly what they expected: all flash, no substance. An optimist would counter by pointing out that the Buffs were finally in the national conversation, even if they finished at 4-8 and in last place in the Pac-12 Conference. Either way, 2024 brings more change: The Buffs have moved to the Big 12 and its roster got another massive overhaul, welcoming 43 transfers to campus.
Player To Watch: The most important players on the Buffs’ roster—QB Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, both of whom are expected to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft—haven’t changed. But if the offensive line can’t protect Shedeur better than it did last year, when the QB spent as much time on his back as he did in the pocket, CU isn’t likely to improve much. Enter freshman Jordan Seaton, the top-rated offensive tackle recruit in the country.
Western Colorado University
Team Preview: If someone is going to end Mines’ run of conference championships, it’s likely to be the Mountaineers, who won 10 games a year ago and begin 2024 ranked 15th.
Players To Watch: With star back Deyvon Butler running out of eligibility, Western will rely heavily on its defense—which shouldn’t be a problem. The Mountaineers allowed a paltry 16 points per game in 2023 and return sack leader Ricky Freymond, all-conference corner Bryce Lucas, and team-tackles leader Kendall Lightfoot.
