Deion Sanders declared Colorado is football on April 27 at Folsom Field goal for the 2024 season was to make a bowl game and win at least six games. The goal was a tribute to 98-year-old superfan Peggy Coppom.

At 4-1 after their first bye week, the Buffs are ahead of schedule.

Coach Prime emphasized to his players that they have not accomplished anything yet; even after Colorado’s most impressive win of the “Prime Time” era against UCF, a 48-21 rout of the Knights in Orlando.

“You all think you’ve arrived, right? Y’all didn’t do anything, man,” Sanders said via Good from the media. “Because when I was asked the same thing, they said, ‘Coach, you all do this and that.’ We are supposed to be here.”

The task is not finished yet. Four games won’t get you to a bowl game. The Buffs know that all too well after a promising season in Boulder turned into disaster toward the end of the 2023 season.

Yet this time it feels different. Colorado’s best win came against TCU in Week 1 last year, but the Horned Frogs didn’t prove to be much of a challenge. The way the Buffs beat Baylor and UCF seems to point to a team that can win every game for the rest of the season.

They probably won’t run the table. A disappointment seems inevitable against K-State, Utah or Texas Tech. Maybe Oklahoma State will find out at the end of the season. Or maybe Kansas or Cincinnati is playing a spoiler.

But there’s a serious chance CU is in contention for something notable by the end of the season. At least that’s what it looks like now. Things can change when the team feels like the job is done, and it won’t be long before that happens.

It’s easy to imagine the Buffs having completely different motivations once six games have been won. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter may have NFL futures on their minds, and other players may be looking at their next move as well. Playing in Colorado could increase their values ​​in NIL in the portal next year. Shedeur and Hunter may not be the only professional players on the roster.

There could be a lot to look forward to if this team wins enough to qualify for a bowl, but loses enough to be ineligible for the College Football Playoff. For all we know, a Big 12 champion might not win enough with eight or nine wins to make the 12-team CFP field.

Colorado can’t give up when it turns out there isn’t much to play for. This team has built a rabid fan base that spans the entire country seemingly overnight.

There will always be something to play for.