How Air Force, CU, CSU, UNC will fare

Colorado

Mobile users, tap here to see the schedule.

Sarah Kelly, deputy sports editor: The Buffs will survive a scare — and perhaps some fun smack talk about Ralphie’s true species — from the Bison, but the road stays rocky against an improved Nebraska team and a CSU squad that tasted blood last season. Can Jordan Seaton protect Shedeur Sanders, who was sacked more than 50 times in 2023? Well, not by himself. If things go as poorly as they could potentially go, this one could come down to a road game at Kansas, which is all a little too reminiscent of the Dan Hawkins era. Prediction: 4-8  

Kyle Newman, sports writer: After opening with a big win over North Dakota State, the Buffs stumble in their road rivalry games, losing to Nebraska and CSU in successive weeks. The up-and-down continues from there as CU struggles to protect Shedeur Sanders (again) and the defense fails to consistently rise to the occasion. A defeat to Oklahoma State in the final game seals its bowl-less fate. Prediction: 5-7 

Sean Keeler, columnist: Shedeur Sanders rallies the Buffs to a comeback victory over those pesky NDSU Bison in the opener, sending a sigh of relief through Folsom Field and sending CU on its way to … another roller-coaster ride, probably. This new Big 12 is one massive collection of middleweights, though, which gives the Buffs a puncher’s chance in every game this fall. But let’s just keep it simple, huh? Combine nine-win talent with four-win coaching, split the difference, and you’re bowling. Barely. Prediction: 6-6

Matt Schubert, sports editor: If the Buffs are going bowling, they must get out of the nonconference slate 2-1 at minimum. There are no world beaters on CU’s schedule, but there aren’t many gimmies, either. The closing stretch with home games vs. Utah and Oklahoma State sandwiched around a trip to Kansas may decide whether or not the Buffs are playing in late December. Prediction: 7-5 

Colorado State

Mobile users, tap here to see the schedule.

Kelly: This is a pivotal year for both Jay Norvell and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, and they’ll both rise to the occasion. Last season showed us glimmers of the kind of magic CSU can create when things go right. The recipe for success? A more mature QB, a little more talent around him, and a momentum-shifting rivalry win over CU. Rammies go bowling for the first time since 2017.  Prediction: 7-5 

Newman: The turnaround Rams fans have been waiting for comes to fruition in Year 3 under coach Jay Norvell. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi reins in the mistakes that plagued him last season and capitalize on a talented wideout corps headlined by Tory Horton, who has another 1,000-yard season. Despite a loss to Texas in the opener, the Rams pick up big rivalry wins over CU and Wyoming. Prediction: 9-3  

Keeler: The remit for Year 3 of the Jay Norvell Era is crystal clear: Win a trophy game; get to a bowl; and start getting those fannies back in those very swanky Canvas Stadium seats again. They should check off all three. As the Rammies get CU and Wyoming at home, snatching at least one of those is imperative. A lot of little birdies I respect keep whispering that this team could be sneaky good. But BFN won’t reach his ceiling until he’s fixed his floor. Prediction: 6-6

Schubert: Has there been a bigger game in the brief history of Canvas Stadium than the Buffs’ visit on Sept. 14? If the Rams steal that one against CU, the opportunity for a big season is right there. It says here that won’t happen. But Norvell finally gets a rivalry win when Wyoming comes calling in November. That and a bowl game are enough to keep the Norvell Era alive and kicking in FoCo. Prediction: 7-5

Air Force

Mobile users, tap here to see the schedule.

Kelly: Air Force’s “next man up” mentality is put to the test after losing all but four starters. It may not always be pretty, but the Zoomies get it done — and maybe even get tantalizingly close to the expanded College Football Playoff. A CFB bid isn’t happening this year, but expect a few very fun, suspenseful midseason weeks. Prediction: 8-4  

Newman: The Falcons return very little of last year’s team — three starters on defense and one on offense — and will be learning via trial by fire for the first several weeks. There are growing pains in a rebuilding season in Colorado Springs, but Air Force beats rival Navy and its regimented triple-option offense remains tough to stop as they are competitive in the majority of their games. Prediction: 6-6  

Keeler: Too many new faces, you say? Balderdash! The Zoomies could win seven games with a backfield of Snap, Crackle and Pop. It’s the system, silly. It’ll take a couple of weeks for Air Force to find its feet, but once it does, the Falcons will resume their usual run of precision curb-stomping. Prediction: 8-4

Schubert: Troy Calhoun has it rolling down in the Springs. Even with massive turnover, it’s hard to see this program taking a big step back. There are some tough roadies on the schedule, including visits to Waco, West Point and San Diego, but this a manageable slate. The Falcons have reached four straight bowl games in non-Covid seasons. Make it five. Prediction: 8-4

Northern Colorado

Mobile users, tap here to see the schedule.

Kelly: After I graduated, my alma mater, Kansas, managed to string together two separate winless seasons under two separate coaches, one of them as recently as 2020. Bears fans, I have hurt the way you hurt. But last year? The Jayhawks played in a bowl game. Kansas and UNC have very little in common except one important thing: It can’t get much worse. With the bar set this low, the Bears should be able to claw and fight their way over it. The only way out is through. Prediction: 2-10