Naysayers will point to the negatives.

Colorado didn’t beat any ranked teams; got humbled by BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl a week ago, 36-14; and didn’t win its conference.

That’s all true, but to judge the 2024 Colorado football season requires knowledge of where the program has been. And in the end, head coach Deion Sanders has done a remarkable job with the Buffaloes in his two seasons in Boulder.

At this time two years ago, the Buffs were coming off a 1-11 season in which they were the worst power conference team in the country. Last year, they improved to 4-8 in Sanders’ first season.

This year, the Buffs went 9-4, including a 7-2 record in the Big 12 that left them in a four-way tie for first place. Tie-breakers kept them out of the conference title game.

Cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter had one of the most decorated seasons of any player in college football history, taking home numerous awards, including the second Heisman Trophy in program history.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was arguably the best quarterback in the country. The receiving corps was arguably the best in the nation. The defense was one of the most improved units around.

It all added up to what was one of the top two seasons by a CU team in the past 20-plus years, rivaled only, perhaps, by the 2016 squad that went 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South.

Without question, it was the most transformational season at CU in decades. And, even as the Buffs say goodbye to Hunter, Shedeur and others, there is more hope for the future than there’s been in a while.

“I think we established expectation,” Coach Prime said after the Alamo Bowl loss to BYU. “Now you expect us to perform a certain way. You expect us to win. You expect us to be exciting. You expect us to be a lot more disciplined than we displayed today. You just have expectations of us now. That’s what we’ve established.”

While the Buffs have already turned the page to building for 2025, BuffZone takes a look back at the 2024 campaign with a final report card and individual awards.

Grade: Offense

CU wound up averaging 32.9 points per game, which tied for fourth in the Big 12. That’s the best scoring averaging for the Buffs since the 2001 team averaged 33.0. Led by Big 12 offensive player of the year Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, the Buffs had the best passing attack in the conference, averaging 318.0 yards per game through the air. As dynamic as the passing attack was, though, the run game was often non-existent. CU was last in the country for the second year in a row with 65.2 rushing yards per game — even worse than last year’s 68.9. The lack of a run game cost the Buffs in some losses and prevents this grade from being an A. Grade: B.

First-year coordinator Robert Livingston and a host of seniors led a dramatic turnaround for the defense this season. Overall, the Buffs were sixth in the Big 12 in scoring defense (allowing 23.1 points per game) and eighth in total defense (allowing 351.9 yards per game). Those numbers don’t jump off the page, unless comparing them to last year (34.8, 453.3). This is the first time in CU history that total defense improved by at least 100 yards (101.4) and the 11.7-point improvement in the scoring defense is the best for a CU team in nearly 40 years (the 1985 team made a 19.1-point improvement). CU also led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93), finished second with 27 takeaways, and had the Big 12 defensive player of the year in Travis Hunter. Grade: B.

Grade: Special teams

Punter Mark Vassett was really good at times and averaged 43.7 yards per punt, with 19 punts inside the 20, but he was inconsistent. Kicker Alejandro Mata overcame some early struggles to finish 12-for-15 on field goals and 55-for-55 on extra points. Aside from LaJohntay Wester’s 76-yard punt return for touchdown against Utah, the Buffs didn’t generate much on returns but certainly gave up a lot. CU, which struggled to put kickoffs into the end zone, gave up more kickoff returns (53) and punt returns (24) than any other team in the conference. The Buffs allowed 22.2 yards on kickoff returns (15th in the Big 12) and a touchdown; and allowed 15.2 yards on punt returns (13th in the Big 12), including a touchdown in the Alamo Bowl. Grade: C-minus.

Player of the year: Travis Hunter

This one is an obvious choice. Hunter is the second Heisman Trophy winner in CU history and was the Walter Camp and Associated Press national player of the year. Offensively, he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver, catching 96 passes for 1,258 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns. Defensively, he won the Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott Impact Trophy as the nation’s best defender, ranking among the top 10 nationally in passes defended with 15 (four interceptions, 11 pass breakups).

Top offensive player: Shedeur Sanders

Named the Big 12 offensive player of the year by coaches and media, Sanders had the best season ever for a CU quarterback. He set single-season school records for passing yards (4,134), passing touchdowns (37), completion percentage (74.0) and passer rating (168.21), smashing all of the previous records. Nationally, he led the country in completion percentage, is second in TD passes, fourth in passing yards and fifth in rating. Honorable mention: Hunter, WR LaJohntay Wester.

Top defensive player: Cam’Ron Silmon Craig

Hunter was CU’s best defender, but to spread the wealth, we’ll give one to Silmon-Craig, who was phenomenal all season. He finished with a team-high 93 tackles (most for a CU defensive back in 15 years) and posted 10 tackles for loss (most for a CU defensive back since 2015). He also returned a fumble for a touchdown and capped his career with an interception in the Alamo Bowl. Honorable mention: Hunter, DE BJ Green.

Top special teams player: Alejandro Mata

Although he doesn’t have the long range that some other top kickers have, Mata was solid throughout the season. He finished 12-for-15 on field goals, including making 10 in a row to tie the school record (a streak that ended in the Alamo Bowl). He was also 55-for-55 on extra points, tying for the second-most made extra points in a season in CU history. He’s the only kicker in CU history to make at least 45 extra points without a miss. Honorable mention: S Ben Finneseth, P Mark Vassett.

Top transfer: LaJohntay Wester

He came in from Florida Atlantic with a lot of hype and certainly lived up to it. Overshadowed for postseason awards by Hunter, Wester was a star this year. He posted one of the best overall seasons in CU history by a receiver, finishing with 74 catches for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had a punt return for touchdown. Honorable mention: DE BJ Green, LB Nikhai Hill-Green.

Top freshman: Jordan Seaton

The highest-rated offensive line recruit coming out of high school in 2024, Seaton didn’t disappoint. He had some freshman miscues but was the Buffs’ best and most steady offensive lineman this season. Honorable mention: WR Drelon Miller, CB Colton Hood.

Most improved: Silmon-Craig

He was good last year as a junior. He was great this year as a senior. Honorable mention: DE Arden Walker, DB Carter Stoutmire.

Best interview: Shedeur Sanders, Silmon-Craig

It’s a shared award this year because Coach Prime leaned on both of them to talk to media in good times and bad, and both were exceptional every time they sat in front of the microphone. Honorable mention: Seaton, Wester.