During his first season as a defensive coordinator, Colorado’s Robert Livingston orchestrated one of the most impressive leaps the program has ever seen.

It’s why Livingston was recently rewarded by head coach Deion Sanders with a new two-year contract and hefty raise.

Under Livingston’s guidance, CU allowed just 23.1 points and 351.9 yards per game in 2024. The total defense drop of 101.4 yards from 2023 was the best year-over-year improvement in program history, while the points per game drop of 11.7 was the best for a CU defense since 1985.

CU (9-4, 7-2 Big 12) also led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93).

As the book was closing on the 2024 season, however, Livingston wasn’t satisfied and he already knew the formula for 2025 wouldn’t be the same.

“I think the unfortunate part of this profession is you are never finished, so there’s always a, ‘I wish I would have done this or that’ moment,” Livingston said before the Buffs’ 2024 finale against BYU at the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. “It’s been a great ride.”

For 2025 to be a great ride, Livingston and the Buffs will rely on a lot of new players.

“Next year’s version (of the defense) probably won’t look like this because we’ll have new players,” he said. “People are going to come, people are going to go, so you have to have the ability to adapt. I think that’s a huge part of what we’ll do is look at the guys we have, look at how we did this year. A lot of it will be the same, but there will be some changes as well.”

Eight of the 10 players that started at least 10 games in 2024 are gone, including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, a cornerback who was the Big 12 defensive player of the year.Defensive linemen Shane Cokes and Chidozie Nwankwo, defensive end BJ Green, inside linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Nikhai Hill-Green, and safeties Shilo Sanders and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig are also primary starters who are moving on through graduation or the transfer portal.

Livingston said his standard on defense won’t change, even if the players are different.

“If we can play great situationally — so that’s third down, that’s red zone — and we keep the points low, then that’s what we want to do,” he said. “In terms of the standard, you want to be able to feel us. That’s what we’ve always talked about. I think we’ve all watched a game where the defense is flying around, and you find yourself almost cringing when somebody cuts back. That’s who we want to be. We want to be the hardest playing team that we can. Then you are going to have five or six players that can impact the game.”

Plenty of talent is back to maintain the standard.

In the secondary, DJ McKinney started all 13 games at cornerback and Preston Hodge started nine games at nickel before missing the last four games with an injury. Carter Stoutmire wound up starting seven games while filling in for Hodge and Shilo Sanders, while Colton Hood became a valuable reserve.

Up front, the Buffs return five key pass rushers in Samuel Okunlola (10 starts, three sacks), Amari McNeill (three starts, 3.5 sacks), Arden Walker (two starts, 4.5 sacks), Taje McCoy (four sacks) and Keaten Wade (four sacks).

Defensive linemen Anquin Barnes (three starts) and Tawfiq Thomas are also back, as is Taurean Carter, who missed most of the season with an injury. Veteran linebackers Jeremiah Brown and Jaylen Wester will battle for starting jobs, as will cornerback Isaiah Hardge and safeties Savion Riley and RJ Johnson.

Offseason additions include inside linebackers Martavius French (UTSA) and Reginald Hughes (Jacksonville State), who were both all-conference last year; defensive linemen Tavion Coleman (Texas State), Gavriel Lightfoot (Fresno State) and Jehiem Oatis (Alabama); linebacker Kylan Salter (TCU); and safeties Tawfiq Byard (South Florida) and Makari Vickers (Oklahoma).

Several young players, including five incoming true freshmen, will be in the mix, as well.

Based on how he handled the 2024 season, Livingston is likely to spend this offseason figuring out what the players do best and go from there.

“If you have a great pass rusher, let’s let them rush,” he said. “If you have a great cover player, let’s let them cover. If he gets hot, keep feeding them. I think we can make this game harder than it has to be. It starts with the people, and it starts with the personnel.”