The Colorado Buffaloes face an uphill struggle on Saturday when they play the eighth-ranked USC Trojans. They're missing Travis Hunter and have wide receiver Xavier Weaver on the injured list, but there's still time for the program to pull off a massive upset.
The Buffaloes are a 21.5-point underdog at home, according to the oddsmakers. However, the team has been a massive underdog before and won games outright. They have a lot of potential. As a result, coach Deion Sanders must ensure that his players are in a position to pull off possibly the season's biggest upset.
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This question has a pretty easy answer. The offensive line has been a key source of concern for the Colorado Buffaloes. While junior quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been playing exceptionally well, he has been hit much too frequently. Sanders has been sacked 22 times in the first four games of the season.
While the Trojans' defense is not particularly renowned, they have produced 16 sacks this season, with senior defensive end Solomon Byrd recording 4.5 sacks. If they want to have a chance in this game, they'll need to plan ahead of time how to give Sanders time in the pocket to make things work.
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The USC Trojans offense is the finest in the country, and facing an elite offensive is challenging. Colorado conceded a touchdown on six of the first seven defensive possessions against Oregon last week, but that's obviously not going to happen this time. Having seen an outstanding offensive means the Buffaloes won't go into this game clueless.
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Caleb Williams is going to torch the defense, as he's the best player in college football. Forcing a punt or two or a field goal instead of a score, on the other hand, would be tremendous. USC's defense isn't strong and can allow points, so a few stops would be a huge win and a chance to pull off the home upset.
On the other hand, despite rumors that the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback would not enter the draft the following year, CFB analyst Joel Klatt selected him as the first overall pick the following year. A player's decision to become a pro a year early is influenced by a variety of reasons. Another issue to consider is the startling number of NIL deals that the players receive. According to Klatt, the devil may be hiding in the details of the situation in which Shedeur Sanders finds himself.
Joel Klatt got into an argument with Colin Cowherd after he addressed the possibility of Shedeur Sanders turning pro next year. Although Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has stated that his quarterback will return for another season, Cowherd believes he cannot advise his son not to pursue a professional career. Klatt, on the other hand, had a different perspective. "It's not as cut and dry as it used to be. Because of NIL. So it's not just like, you have to go," Klatt said on the Colin Cowherd Show.
"Deion's gonna be there next year," Klatt said. "So is Travis Hunter, I would assume they're gonna do better in the portal. They are having recruits calling them at a staggering rate right now, 2024 class, and 2025 class. So in my estimation, this is the worst they will be. Right now. So Shedeur can think to himself listen, I'm gonna be with my dad and Travis and give this another year. And there is every reason to believe that he could be the number one pick next year (2025)," Klatt added.
Shedeur Sanders may outearn an NFL rookie if he decides to play another season of college football in Colorado, according to a source. According to experts, the Buffaloes QB may make up to $10 million in NIL deals. That is more than a rookie on an NFL contract would make in a year.