Year three of the Deion Sanders era has arrived.

In each of his first two years in charge of the Buffaloes, Coach Prime more than doubled the win total from the previous season. From 1-11 to 4-8 to 9-4. It’s been a rapid progression for the CU program.

This season will be his biggest test yet. The Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, is in the NFL. So is Sanders’ son, Shedeur, and countless others who were key contributors during the first iteration of the Coach Prime era.

The season opener against Georgia Tech on Friday (6 p.m. ESPN) starts a new era. 

Here’s how the 2025 season will play out for the Buffs:

Game 1: vs. Georgia Tech (Friday)

The transfer portal era guarantees chaos in the first few weekends of the season. There are fewer known commodities across the country, but it makes season openers hard to gauge. The Yellow Jackets are one of the few known commodities. Coach Brent Key has had a solid start to his tenure at his alma mater and has an experienced backfield of QB Haynes King and RB Jamal Haynes that should give Georgia Tech enough firepower to beat the Buffs.

King’s pick: Loss (0-1 record)

Game 2: vs. Delaware

Expect a bounce-back performance eight days later from CU. Delaware is making the jump from the FCS to the FBS, and it will take the Blue Hens a few years to acclimate to the new level. Liberty transfer QB Kaidon Salter has his first big game at CU and leads a dominant win.

King’s pick: Win (1-1)

Game 3: at Houston (Friday)

This is a tough spot early in the season for CU. A short week and a Big 12 road game is not ideal for a Week 3 game, but the Cougars still project to be at the bottom of the conference despite real upgrades on both sides of the ball. The CU defense makes an early season statement and shows the Georgia Tech game was a blip for that unit.

King’s pick: Win (2-1, 1-0 Big 12)

Game 4: vs. Wyoming

CU concludes its nonconference schedule with a fun game against a Front Range opponent that hasn’t visited Boulder in over 15 years. The Cowboys won only three games last season in a bad year for the Mountain West and lost by a combined 61 points against their two Big 12 opponents in 2024.

King’s pick: Win (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

Game 5: vs. BYU

The Alamo Bowl rematch has lost a bit of its hype after QB Jake Retzlaff moved on from the Cougars in the offseason. Still, this has the makings of an interesting rivalry in the new Big 12, even if the respect between Deion Sanders and Kalani Sitake is immense. With a challenging stretch to come, this is a must-win game for the Buffs against a beatable Big 12 opponent.

King’s pick: Win (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)

Game 6: at TCU

This is the swing game for the season. Coach Prime returns to the site of his memorable debut with the Buffs and a win in Fort Worth this time around would mean CU is a contender in the Big 12. But QB Josh Hoover and the high-powered Horned Frogs offense will be too much for the Buffs, who are saddled with their first Big 12 loss.

King’s pick: Loss (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)

Game 7: vs. Iowa State

The second of three-straight tough Big 12 games comes against a familiar opponent from the old Big 8 days. It’s the first time the Buffs and Cyclones have met since 2010. CU is 49-15-1 against ISU. But Matt Campbell’s team has proven itself capable of tough Big 12 wins with a Week 0 win over Kansas State in Ireland. Coach Prime has his first losing streak since the end of the 2023 season.

King’s pick: Loss (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)

Game 8: at Utah

The Buffs doubled up the Utes on the scoreboard at Folsom Field last season, but it didn’t erase a decade of disappointment against Utah. The Utes have quickly bounced back after last year’s disappointing season and continues their quest to reach the Big 12 title game by taking care of CU in Salt Lake City.

King’s pick: Loss (4-4, 2-3 Big 12)

Game 9: vs. Arizona

There are very few ‘easy’ games in the Big 12, but a visit from the Wildcats qualifies as one. Arizona struggled last season and didn’t make significant upgrades on either side of the ball, projecting as a bottom-four team. CU handles Brent Brennan’s team with relative ease for the second-straight season.

King’s pick: Win (5-4, 3-3 Big 12)

Game 10: at West Virginia

For the first time as Big 12 opponents, the Buffs and Mountaineers meet in Morgantown in what could be a fun road trip for CU fans looking to check out what the new-look conference has to offer. What West Virginia offers on the field this season, however, will not be as fun. Rich Rodriguez has an uphill climb to get his program back to where it was when he left it over 15 years ago.

King’s pick: Win (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)

Game 11: vs. Arizona State

The defending Big 12 champions coming to Boulder should have Folsom Field rocking for this late-season clash. Coming off their second bye week of the season, the well-rested Buffs pull off their biggest win and guarantee a winning record in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 20 years.

King’s pick: Win (7-4, 5-3 Big 12)

Game 12: at Kansas State

A road trip to the Little Apple is not an ideal way to close the regular season. Despite a Week 0 loss to Iowa State, the Wildcats will be a team no one wants to face on a cold day in late November thanks to their physical nature. CU closes the regular season with a loss but earns a bid to the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

King’s pick: Loss (7-5, 5-4 Big 12)

Bowl prediction: Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 31)