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 bettering 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 change into one of the crucial 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 development continued at Sacramento State, the place his group 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 via 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 seek 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 is not going to 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 equivalent to quarterback Julian Lewis and huge receiver Omarion Miller set to return in 2026.
Might this be the subsequent Colorado coach after Deion Sanders?
Marion’s arrival in Boulder comes at a time when profitable is required. A number 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 via the 2029 season, nevertheless it’s clear {that a} disastrous season in 2026 wherever close to what Colorado suffered via 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 getting into the suitable course however maybe additionally put Marion within the position 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 at hand over the reins.
For now, Marion’s job is obvious: Breathe life into an offense that sputtered via 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 is perhaps 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 via a program nonetheless trying to find its identification.
