The rule of this competitive atmosphere, especially when you are in a recruiting phase, is that the first impression matters for the whole school overall. Irrespective of the sport, the Colorado Buffaloes athletics ‘Sko Buffs’ reputation amongst elite recruits right now is skewed because of Deion Sanders’ football team’s fresh loss to BYU, which took them to 2-3. It was fondly and judgingly witnessed by various five-star from across different sports.

For Colorado, luck could not have been worse. On campus for an official visit was Brihanna Crittendon, the No. 8 overall women’s basketball prospect of 2026. The Thornton native already soared past 2,000 career points at Riverdale Ridge last season and puts up the kind of stat that commands attention: 26.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Her game is flashy yet efficient, with a knack for torching defenders while making it look casual. She was already evaluating programs with serious pull. Tennessee hosted her back on September 12, and the Lady Vols surely would’ve rolled out the orange carpet.

With Colorado’s women’s team set to open its season on November 6 against New Mexico, Buffs fans can only hope hometown pride weighs heavily in her decision. The ripple effect of football was impossible to ignore. Sitting in Folsom Field, Crittendon and others saw Colorado jump to a 14-0 first-half lead, only to watch it slip through their fingers in a defeat. These first impressions can stick like glue, and this one may have left more questions than answers. It wasn’t just Crittendon soaking in the scene either. Colorado football’s staff had rolled out the welcome mat for one of the biggest names in the 2027 cycle: five-star QB Kavian Bryant.

Ranked as the No. 1 QB in the Rivals300, Bryant is already a magnet for attention, with offers piling up like unread texts. He received one from Deion Sanders himself just last month, and Prime made sure to be seen pregame swaying with the young star. The idea was clear: make the day feel like a coronation. Instead, it turned into a cautionary tale. Bryant has already visited Texas Tech and Texas earlier this month and is considered “warm” on Texas Tech, Texas, SMU, and Florida State. Leaving Boulder with images of a blown two-touchdown lead can shift the calculus in a hurry.

Deion Sanders, ever the showman, tried to take ownership postgame, words that might double as a recruiting pitch as much as an explanation. “We’re just not doing our jobs,” he said of the defense’s struggles containing BYU’s quarterback. “That’s it. We’re not doing our jobs. It’s not like it’s a surprise what they’re going to do. It’s not at all. We’re just not doing our job, so we’ve got to do a better job of preparing these young men to do their jobs in front of the multitudes.”

Prime’s recruiting weekend turns into a crowd scene

Bryant wasn’t the only blue-chip name in the building for CU’s clash with BYU. According to On3, the five-star QB was joined by at least five major class of 2026 flip targets making the trip to Boulder. All five already hold commitments elsewhere, but curiosity brought them to Folsom.

The group included offensive tackle Javeion Cooper, a Syracuse pledge. Wideout Bryan Hamilton, who’s tied to Pitt. Receiver Brayden Allen committed to Tulane. Defensive lineman Kaleb Morris, a Mississippi State commit, and running back Lehky Thompkins, currently Louisville-bound.

Coach Prime has already secured 13 commitments in the 2026 class, including three four-stars: safety Preston Ashley, linebacker Rodney Colton Jr., and defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin. But so far, the Buffs haven’t landed a single class of 2027 pledge.