There promised to be a lot of things that would be a lot different for the Colorado Buffaloes annual Black and Gold Day Spring football scrimmage. And that was definitely the case.
Head Coach Deion Sanders and his very new squad came out and played to some mixed reviews on Saturday, but that had as much to do with the way last season ended as the way Buff fans hope the next season will go. A crowd of just over 27,000 fans – who all received free entrance into Folsom Field – watched the Gold team edge the Black team 7-6. The game’s only touchdown came on a beautifully thrown 13-yard TD pass from returning quarterback Ju Ju Lewis to newcomer Danny Scudero, a transfer who Sanders hopes will make an immediate impact on and off the field for his 2026 squad. Scudero led the nation in receiving last season at San Jose State, where he put up outstanding numbers that included 88 receptions for just under 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. The wide receiver’s approach has caught Sanders attention, and he’s looking for the newcomer to be a leader on this year’s team.
That pass play was the biggest highlight for a squad that will feature close to 60 new players after all the transferring in and out has finished. The CU offense will be led by Lewis, but under the guidance of new Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion, who promises an up-tempo attack he’s dubbed the “Go Go Offense.” Predictably, most of the new attack was kept under wraps for this scrimmage. The bigger debut will come against Georgia Tech in September.
The new look Buffs looked undersized to a lot of observers, who openly wondered about CU’s ability to stand up physically next fall. They do have more than four months of weight training time available before the season opens.
Colorado is coming off a 3-9 season, and many fans remain disgruntled. While attendance was the third highest ever for a CU spring scrimmage, this one didn’t make it on to television and no admission fee was charged.
Overall the event was about as successful as it could be. No significant injuries were reported. That included a health update on the head coach, who revealed after the practice that he had recently undergone another procedure for his recurring blood clot issues. After apologizing to the media for keeping the issue quiet, Sanders pronounced himself fit and ready for the next phase of the off season…which will include several fishing trips.
Sanders also took time to reiterate his desire to alter the way spring football is handled by the NCAA. For two years now the fourth year head coach has campaigned for a change that will allow teams like Colorado to conduct some of their drills and their spring game with and against another team – he mentioned nearby rival Colorado State as a possibility – rather than simply scrimmaging themselves. The idea hasn’t gained any traction with the powers that be, but fans and media have endorsed the idea and there’s no doubt Sanders, and other coaches like Syracuse’s Fran Brown, will continue the campaign.
Vibes Are Mixed at the Colorado Buffaloes Spring Game