Team Grading The Week is officially gaga over the Go-Go.
As in The “Go-Go” offense, which is a term Front Range fans would be wise to get hip to. Because it’s about to become the base offensive scheme of Deion Sanders’ CU Buffs’ football program.
Take a bow, Coach Prime. The Buffs are sort of circling back to where they started at offensive coordinator three years ago. And that should be a good thing.
Even the snobbiest types up in the Grading The Week (GTW) offices have a hard time turning their noses up at Sanders’ newest coaching hire. That’s because former Sacramento State coach Brennan Marion, who’ll replace Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator, ticks a ridiculous amount of boxes from Day 1:
• He uses a college-friendly, college-fun system in The “Go-Go” offense, which is a two-back, quick-tempo attack;
• He’s got a system that runs the ball;
• He’s got a system that can throw deep off those runs;
• He’s got a system that likes to hurry-up and wear opponents down with tempo;
• He’s young (38);
• He’s regarded as a smart, aggressive recruiter;
• He’s worked for Steve Sarkisian (at Texas), Barry Odom (at UNLV); Pat Narduzzi (at Pitt); and Todd Graham (at Hawaii).
• He’s got head-coaching experience at the college level, leading Sac State to a 7-5 mark (5-3 Big Sky).
Sound familiar? It should.
Marion’s resume has some of the same bullet points as CU’s first OC of the Prime Era — Sean Lewis.
Marion joining CU football — A-minus.
Full disclosure: The GTW crew liked the Lewis hire. A lot. If you can win at Kent State, you’ll win anywhere.
Lewis, in theory, should’ve been a good fit at CU, too. In hindsight, not everyone’s personalities meshed, and when the Buffs hit a rough patch midway through the 2023 season after a stellar, 3-0 September, Lewis became one of the first to feel the heat. It shocked no one that he was looking to move on fairly quickly, and San Diego State handed him the keys. And it’s worked out in SoCal — in his second season with the Aztecs, Lewis is waiting for a bowl berth after a 9-3 campaign, one in which SDSU beat Cal (34-0), Boise State (17-7) and Fresno State (23-0) by a combined score of 74-7.
Let’s be frank. Sanders getting CU in 2026 back to a bowl berth, or even contending for the Big 12 crown, given the volatility and competitive balance of their league, wouldn’t shock the football wonks on the GTW staff. When you’re as reliant on the portal as the Buffs, there’s always a shot that the roulette wheel will be kinder this winter than it was the last.
But the GTW crew remains less convinced that Sanders is at CU for the long-term — certainly not beyond the 2029 season, when his current contract ends. Coach Prime turns 59 in August. He’s beaten cancer and soldiered through several serious surgeries over the last decade or so.
While Sanders is, by several accounts, fiercely committed to proving both the merits his program-building principles and proving his acumen as a head coach on the Power 4 stage, health will likely remain a narrative going forward — whether Coach Prime likes it or not.
It’s unlikely that CU’s administration would ever seek to fire Sanders, let alone push back strongly against him in any way. But with a new athletic director replacing Rick George this summer, it behooves the Buffs to have a “Plan B” in mind as a head coach, especially one who’s already on the staff, in case Coach Prime’s health takes another turn that necessitates either a long-term absence or a retirement.
It was presumed three years ago that Lewis would be that guy. Shurmur sure as heck wasn’t. But Marion — on paper, at least — looks as if he neatly fits that bill.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.