With Colorado’s spring practice period concluded following the Black and Gold Spring Game on Saturday, we’re officially in football hibernation until the Buffs open their season against Georgia Tech on September 3.
While Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage did not give everything away about this year’s team, it did offer a few clear takeaways. This looked like a different offense structurally, and even in a limited setting. Some flashes made it easy to see where the excitement is coming from. The play calling looked more creative, the receiving corps made plays and several of the new skill players already look like strong fits for what Colorado wants to do.
At the same time, there were still some areas that looked unfinished, which is to be expected in April. The offensive line did not have a great day and the defense again had moments where the deep ball looked like a problem. Still, the spring game was not really about finished products. It was about identifying where this roster has real upside, and there were enough signs to leave Boulder feeling like CU has some pieces worth believing in.
The Offense:
Offensively, the biggest takeaway was how different the structure looked. Colorado is clearly trying to put its playmakers in better positions and the overall feel of the offense was more varied than what fans saw at times last season. The play calling should be fun this year under new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, and it already looks like it fits players like speedy receivers Kam Perry and Danny Scudero well.
Quarterback remains one of the more important storylines coming out of the day. The Utah transfer, Isaac Wilson, was the only quarterback Colorado put under center and his snaps there also featured some of Brennan Marion’s Go-Go concepts, including double sidecar looks that gave a clearer idea of how this offense wants to stress defenses before the snap. Wilson seemed to process the game well, which matters this early in the process. However, his ball placement left room for improvement. There were some inaccurate passes that prevented some potential explosive plays from fully coming together. Presumptive starter Julian Lewis, meanwhile, remained in pistol and shotgun in what looked like a quicker, pass-centric offense from the pocket. Even so, the receivers were consistently winning deep, which is probably the more important long-term sign. Colorado looked to create vertical opportunities, and did just that on Saturday. Now it’s about making those throws hit more regularly.
The receiver room might be the easiest group to feel good about after this showing. If there was any doubt about JuJu, it should be fading quickly. He looks like the guy and continues to look more comfortable each time he is on the field. At this point, it is fair to say he has won over the staff, the locker room and the fan base. That trust is growing, and it shows. He had a deep fade connection with Scudero that stood out as one of the better moments of the day and served as a reminder of what this offense can look like when timing and talent line up together.
Scudero himself looked like the best player on the field. That is not an overstatement based on how often he flashed. He looked dangerous anywhere he lined up and Colorado clearly has a weapon it can move around. Whether it is on the boundary, in the slot, or on designed touches, he has the type of skill set that can shape how a defense has to play.
Kam Perry also feels like a natural fit in what Colorado wants to do. Even after watching him flash in just one spring practice, it is easy to see why the offensive staff should be able to build around players like him and Scudero. The pieces make sense together, and Brennan Marion has two new, diverse playmakers at the position.
Up front, the offensive line looked like the group with the most work left to do, which isn’t necessarily shocking following the loss of Jordan Seaton to the portal. This is a unit adjusting to a new offense, and for a lot of these players, a new team as well. Chemistry takes time up front, especially when the system is changing and new pieces are being asked to play together. The struggles in pass protection and overall consistency were noticeable, but this is probably the position group where patience matters most. There is work to do, but it would be a mistake to act like a spring game should have answered all of those questions.
The Defense:
Defensively, the most encouraging signs came up front. Kylan Salter looks like a player who has made real progress in his development since last year. He looks like an agile edge rusher with a more diverse pass rush package, and that matters for a team that needs more reliable third-down disruption. Based on this performance, Salter looks like someone Colorado can lean on as a go-to third-down pass rusher this season.
Samu Taumanupepe also stood out for obvious reasons. The senior transfer, originally offered back in 2022, arrived in Boulder after stops at Texas A&M and Baylor, and his size immediately makes him jump off the field. At 375 pounds, he looked unblockable on run downs. More importantly, he gives Colorado flexibility with how it wants to call things because he can line up across the interior and handle different techniques. Players like that change how comfortable a defense can be on early downs, and Colorado looked like a more physical team inside with him out there.
The pass defense remains a mixed bag. The underneath coverage looked solid for stretches and there were clearly players hunting turnover opportunities. Colorado did come away with a few of those moments, which is a positive sign in itself. At the same time, the deep ball still looked like a concern. That has to improve. Spring is the time to clean up communication and spacing issues, but it is also fair to say that this remains one of the bigger defensive concerns coming out of the scrimmage.
Takeaway:
In the end, the biggest takeaway from Colorado’s 2026 spring game is not that every question got answered. There were real flashes worth paying attention to, but it’s hard to make concrete predictions on the season following a single one-hour practice in April. The offense has some momentum, JuJu looks like a centerpiece, the schematic feel of the unit looks different and the receiver room has enough talent to create excitement immediately.
Colorado did not reveal everything on Saturday, which is probably a good thing. Still, there was enough on displat to leave with a better sense of where this team is heading, and enough top-end flashes to believe the Buffs could be a much more interesting team by the time fall arrives.
