Coach Prime is back in the top 25.

The CU Buffs cracked the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, making their 2024 debut at No. 23 after a 6-2 start. The Buffs beat Cincinnati, 34-23, late Saturday night to improve to 4-1 in the Big 12.

CU was ranked three times last fall under second-year coach Deion Sanders, rising as high as No. 19 the week of Sept. 17, 2023, after opening his debut season with wins over TCU, Nebraska and CSU.

The Buffs lost their fourth game, a 42-6 thumping at Oregon, last Sept. 23, and hadn’t been featured among the top 25 since. CU finished the season with a 1-8 conference mark and didn’t receive another AP vote after Oct. 1.

CU, which trails Big 12 leaders BYU (5-0) and Iowa State (4-0) by a game in the loss column, finished just outside the top 25 in the latest coaches’ poll, one point behind No. 25 Memphis.

The Buffs are on a bye week after two straight victories and return to action at Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) on Nov. 9.