Rece Davis Names Potential College Football Playoff Contender He Does Not Believe In

In the first season under head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado finished 4-8 (1-8 Pac-12) as the Buffaloes lost eight of its final nine games. Despite the struggles against elite competition, another impressive transfer portal class has once again raised expectations in Boulder next season.

Many experts have predicted that Colorado could potentially contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff while also shaking up the Big-12 championship race after departing from the Pac-12 this offseason.

On the " College GameDay Podcast ," ESPN's Rece Davis named multiple potential longshots for the College Football Playoff and begrudgingly included the Buffaloes. He noted that he did not believe the Buffaloes were a true contender, but two factors earned Colorado consideration for a potential dark horse next season.

"The last team I included... I will readily admit I don't believe in," Davis said. "I had Colorado as 36 because simply of this. You have maybe the best quarterback, certainly one of the best two or three quarterbacks, and in my judgment, the best all-around football player in Travis Hunter. Football's not a two-man game... I get that. You got to have some things on the lines of scrimmage.

"They had an exodus in the portal. What would have to happen? I kind of don't believe it. I'm just making the point that with the two most important things you can have, a big-time quarterback and the best all-around player, that at least it's a place to start. Because nobody else in this certainly has anything like that."

The Buffaloes lost 41 players to the transfer portal but replaced the talent with 40 transfer portal additions. This was another unprecedented roster turnover from Sanders, and it could produce mixed results on the field.

Some notable transfer additions include Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard, LSU defensive lineman Quency Wiggins, Pittsburgh defensive lineman Samuel Okunlola, and Arizona State defensive lineman BJ Green.

As Davis noted, the Buffaloes' offense will be led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Last season, Sanders passed for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. The biggest issue was pass protection, as Sanders was sacked over 50 times.

Colorado will open the 2024 season against North Dakota State on Aug. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Related: Rece Davis Identifies 'Giant Problem' With One Potential ACC Contender