Phillip Lindsay says Colorado is built right entering 2026

Former Colorado Buffaloes star running back Phillip Lindsay thinks head coach Deion Sanders has the right pieces around him in 2026, but he says the next step is to show up on the field.

Lindsay, speaking in an interview with Action Network’s Kyle Odegard, didn’t hold back when asked about Sanders’ latest run in Boulder. He said the early 2023 excitement around Coach Prime was real, but it won’t replace results forever.

“All that hype, it wears off. You’ve got to win games now,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay said he likes the hire of offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and believes Colorado finally has a chance to build a more balanced offense. In his view, the Buffs need a stronger run game and a tougher identity up front if they want to climb the Big 12 standings.

“I love that they brought in Brennan Marion because I think it’s going to be a change of pace,” Lindsay said. “I think they’re going to start running the ball a lot more.”

Lindsay also praised Colorado’s new recruiting approach, saying he prefers how the Buffs have targeted hungry transfer players and smaller-school prospects rather than chasing bigger names who didn’t pan out elsewhere.

“The biggest thing I love that the Buffs did this year was not go for those big-name players,” Lindsay said. “I love that they went to these so-called lower division schools and got the best players from that level.”

Phillip Lindsay also added some thoughts on former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Lindsay said the Cleveland Browns quarterback who got humbled by his draft slide could end up helping him in the long run.

“For Shedeur, you’re going to get the best version of him this year,” Lindsay said. “Everybody at some point in their life, they get humbled.”

Lindsay added that Sanders has the talent and mindset to win the Browns’ quarterback battle, saying, “He will beat out Deshaun Watson. I truly think he can beat out Deshaun Watson. He’s young. He has very good talent. He’s smart. He just has to go out there and stay consistent.”

His message about Colorado was the most direct: the program is past the point of simply generating attention and hype.

Now, Lindsay said, they have to produce.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Phillip Lindsay says Colorado is built right entering 2026