Reports on Thursday point out that the Colorado Buffaloes are set to rent Sacramento State head soccer coach Brennan Marion as the college’s new offensive coordinator. However is there extra probably brewing in Boulder than simply the hopes of enhancing Colorado’s offense?
Marion reportedly is becoming a member of the Buffs after his first and solely season at Sacramento State, main the Hornets to a 7-5 mark. Previous to that, he was the offensive coordinator at UNLV, serving to the Rebels grow to be probably the most potent offenses within the Mountain West Convention. In his two seasons there utilizing his signature “GoGo” offense that employs unorthodox formations and deception to create large performs, UNLV averaged greater than 400 yards of offense per sport.
That pattern continued at Sacramento State, the place his crew averaged 425 yards per sport and practically 34 factors per sport.
Offensive enhancements coming for Colorado Buffaloes?
These form of numbers would look good in Boulder after a season the place the Buffs went 3-9 and averaged simply 328.4 yards per sport. Colorado’s offense went by means of a carousel of quarterbacks final season and Pat Shurmur, in the midst of his second season as CU’s offensive coordinator, was relieved of his duties because the Buffs tried to search out solutions.
Tight ends coach Brett Bartolone took over the duties after Colorado was thrashed 53-7 at Utah. The Buffs, nevertheless, misplaced their final 4 video games of the season after that.
Shurmur won’t return in 2026, leaving the door open for Marion to make his personal mark and make use of his personal offense.
The query turns into simply how large of a mark will the 38-year-old Marion make with weapons similar to quarterback Julian Lewis and broad receiver Omarion Miller set to return in 2026.
May this be the subsequent Colorado coach after Deion Sanders?
Marion’s arrival in Boulder comes at a time when successful is required. A few of the luster of the Deion Sanders period in Colorado has started to wear off, with Coach Prime logging a 16-21 mark and only one bowl sport look in his three seasons with the Buffs.
Sanders has a contract that runs by means of the 2029 season, however it’s clear {that a} disastrous season in 2026 wherever close to what Colorado suffered by means of in 2025 would level towards Sanders’ seat rising even hotter.
If Marion can flip across the Colorado offense, it is a good signal for all events in Boulder and will surely take the warmth off the 58-year-old Sanders. Success wouldn’t solely get the Buffs stepping into the proper route however maybe additionally put Marion within the function of program savior.
That form of elevation may put him in line to ascend to go coach when Sanders’ contract runs out ought to Coach Prime resolve then its time handy over the reins.
For now, Marion’s job is obvious: Breathe life into an offense that sputtered by means of 2025 and restore credibility to a program that desperately wants outcomes. His “GoGo” system guarantees pleasure, however CU followers are demanding greater than the flash they have already got with Sanders. The Buffs want wins that silence the doubters and show the Sanders experiment is not collapsing.
If Marion delivers, he will not simply save Sanders’ job; he could be positioning himself to inherit it. However first comes 2026, the place the Buffaloes should show this rent is the catalyst they have been trying to find, not simply one other coordinator passing by means of a program nonetheless trying to find its identification.
