Buffs Beat

Colorado Buffaloes Team GPA Revealed Under Deion Sanders

Academics have long been a priority within coach Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes football program, and his players seem to be taking his message to heart. As announced Friday, Colorado recorded its second-highest team GPA during the spring semester.
Jack Carlough|
Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field between plays during the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field between plays during the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Colorado Buffaloes

On and off the field, the Colorado Buffaloes football program has broken several records over the past two-plus years under the leadership of coach Deion Sanders.

The list recently added another impressive accomplishment as the Buffs recorded their highest-ever spring semester grade point average at 2.957, just shy of the overall record 3.011 set last fall. Also announced Friday, the University of Colorado's entire athletics landscape, which includes 342 student-athletes across 15 programs, set the highest spring GPA in school history at 3.264. CU's women's ski team led the way with a 3.825 GPA.

Cumulatively, the Colorado football program finished with a GPA over 3.0.

Mar 3, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes athletic director Rick George during the second half against the Stan
Mar 3, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes athletic director Rick George during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado athletic director Rick George credited the school's Herbst Academic Center and executive senior associate AD for student success Kris Livingston for helping fuel the record-setting spring.

"I am very proud of our student athletes, coaches and Herbst academic staff led by Kris Livingston for this great accomplishment," George said in a press release. "We have created a great culture around our academic program and we are seeing the results of that effort year after year." 

Along with football and women's ski, women's tennis, women's lacrosse and men's track and field each recorded its highest spring GPA in program history.

"These are big-time results," Livingston said. "For the most part, the student-athletes are dialed-in and strive for excellence in their sport, the classroom, and in the community. The staff in the Herbst Academic Center and the coaches partner to provide expectations, support, and accountability." 

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Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes running back Dallan Hayden (7) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Man
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes running back Dallan Hayden (7) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

While football was technically in its offseason during the spring semester, players still had to balance academics with 15 organized spring practices, including the Black and Gold Day spring football game on April 19. Spring practices also require ample time for recovery and film.

Each week during the spring semester, CU honored a pair of players making strides in the classroom. Notable "Football Students of the Week" included freshman linebacker Mantrez Walker, offensive linemen Jordan Seaton and Zy Crisler, quarterback Julian Lewis, defensive tackle Gavriel Lightfoot, defensive lineman Alexander McPherson and several others.

Lewis was a leading force in Colorado's record-setting spring GPA, finishing his first college semester with a 3.35. The former five-star prospect was an early enrollee and has plans to graduate college in three years, an accomplishment met by former Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter in May.

"This is how we move. Summer classes, three-year grad," Lewis said on his YouTube channel. "That's what I need, to be three-and-done... It's mental overload, but that's a part of life I chose, so I can't really complain."

As Lewis and others take summer classes, the Buffs are about two months away from beginning their third fall camp under "Coach Prime." Colorado will enter the 2025 season with Big 12 Conference title aspirations after winning nine games last year.

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Jack Carlough
JACK CARLOUGH

Jack Carlough is lead reporter for Colorado Buffaloes on SI. Jack graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minors in business and sports media. Born and raised in the Boulder area, Jack began covering Colorado athletics in 2018 and was the head sports editor of the CU Independent during his college career. More recently, he spent over three years as the managing editor of the USA Today Sports Network's Colorado Buffaloes Wire, where he covered Colorado's hiring of head football coach Deion Sanders. Other publications Jack has written for include the Boulder Daily Camera, Left Hand Valley Courier and SB Nation’s Ralphie Report. In 2022, the Colorado Press Association awarded Jack second place in its annual Class 5 Best Sports Column Writing category.

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