The mystery surrounding Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes isn’t about the stars they lost. It’s not Shedeur Sanders/Travis Hunter. It’s the fact that the Buffs, three weeks into the 2025 season, look like a team that has no idea what they want to be. One minute, they’re slinging it around like they’re in an air raid. Next, they’re trying to pound the rock with a line that can’t move a pile of laundry. And as opposing head coaches start chirping, Prime’s answer? He doesn’t give a damn.

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Colorado’s offense is a mess. An 1-2 record, and averaging ball park of 23.7 points a game. They’ve already run three quarterbacks out there — Kaidon Salter, Ryan Staub, and freshman phenom Julian Lewis — but nothing’s sticking. Against Houston, Staub’s debut as QB1 went sideways fast: one touchdown, two picks. And the running game? Don’t even start. 124 rushing yards a game, ranked 105th nationally, and they scraped out just 96 yards against the Cougars. Without Simeon Price’s big runs, they were pushing a measly 2.5 yards per carry.

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Houston head coach Willie Fritz didn’t hold back. He called Colorado’s scheme flat-out repetitive, pointing out that no matter which QB is under center, the same predictable plays are being rolled out. “You look at the plays that were called, and just the little bit I’ve been watching, you know, and you’re right, they played all three guys this past game against Delaware..I think it’s kind of similar to what they’re running. They’ve got an offense. Maybe one guy will do a little bit something different than the other, but it’s an offense that they run.” Fritz basically accused Pat Shurmur’s offense of being a carbon copy week to week.

Then on September 16th, Wyoming’s HC Jay Sawvel piled on the same issue: “I don’t know that they alter their offense dramatically between each one. It may obviously be a little different focus, but we got to get ready for multiple different things.” In simple terms, Colorado’s playbook isn’t shifting even with 3 different quarterbacks. The Buffs are an open book, and everyone’s reading the last chapter before it’s even written.

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The numbers back it up. They’re 100+ in the nation in total offense at just 334.3 yards per game. Their passing attack, once the heart of Prime’s showtime brand, has crashed down to 210.3 yards a game, ranked 82nd. Even their third-down stat — 41.4% — looks decent until you realize it’s mostly short gains, nothing that flips field position or controls tempo. They can’t run the ball, can’t protect the QB, and can’t string drives together without a boneheaded mistake or a dropped pass.

All of this sets up Saturday night’s showdown against Wyoming. The Buffs are favored by nearly two touchdowns at home, but Vegas odds can’t fix an identity crisis. Wyoming comes in 2-1, with a defense that will be licking its chops at Colorado’s soft O-line.

Deion Sanders ‘don’t care’ about the identity of their offense

So what’s Prime got to say about all this? With two head coaches roasting his scheme and the nation wondering what the Buffs are, Deion Sanders stepped to the mic and hit ‘em with classic Prime energy: he doesn’t care. “I don’t care what kind of car we pull up in, long as we pull out of here with a W, I’m good. So I don’t really get into the identity thing, not whatsoever.”

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It’s basically him saying results matter more than labels. But here’s the catch: labels matter in football. Teams that can’t define themselves — run-heavy, pass-first, spread, whatever — eventually get exposed. Right now, Colorado looks exposed. The line’s folding under pressure, the running backs are bottled up, and the quarterbacks are out there freelancing because the structure’s MIA. Prime can brush off the identity talk, but opponents are already weaponizing it against him.

Still, you gotta admire the bravado. He doubled down, saying, “What’s your identity? What does that mean? I don’t even know what that means!” It’s a defiant clapback, but also a dangerous one. Because in college ball, your identity isn’t optional — it’s your brand. Prime isn’t wrong to want Ws above all. But right now, the Ws aren’t showing up. One-and-two with your only win over Delaware doesn’t exactly scream, “We don’t need an identity.” Colorado has been bullied by Power 4 teams so far, and it’s only September. Without Shedeur Sanders orchestrating the passing game and Travis Hunter blowing up defenses, the Buffs look even worse than their 2023 season.