"They might have the best quarterback": Joel Klatt chooses the dark horse team in the Big 12 this year

The 2024 college football season is fast approaching, and several analysts, like Joel Klatt, are rounding up their predictions before the season begins. With conference realignment changing the CFB landscape, there's a lot of anticipation ahead of the upcoming slate.

Klatt disclosed some of his predictions in the latest installment of The Joel Klatt Show. The analyst picked Colorado as the dark horse in the Big 12. After the previous season's disappointment, the Buffaloes enter this season with higher expectations.

“Colorado is a dark horse for this thing,” Klatt said. “I would be insane to not put Colorado in there as a dark horse for the Big 12. They're really talented. They might have the best quarterback in the entire league and their skill position players are insanely talented.”

Joel Klatt touts Colorado for something big in 2024

Colorado has a lot to prove in the upcoming season as they move to the Big 12. Deion Sanders’ first season with the program didn't go as planned. The Buffaloes finished 4-8 in their final Pac-12 campaign. Nonetheless, 2024 is a chance for redemption.

While many believe Colorado can make minor improvements in the 2024 college football season, Klatt has a different feeling. Citing what they could have achieved in 2023, the analyst sees the Buffaloes achieving something major this season in the Big 12.

“This is a team that went from one win to four where it really threw away a couple of other wins,” Klatt said. “They should have been a bowl team last year, and everyone’s like ‘Can they go to a bowl?’ Can they go to a bowl? What are you talking about?”

“This team, I think, is an eight or nine-win team, which puts them in the conversation in a deep-quality league for a potential bid to the Big 12 championship game.”

Joel Klatt believes Shedeur Sanders will be crucial

Shedeur Sanders experienced hard times in the Colorado backfield last season. Due to a weak offensive line, he was the second-most sacked quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Joel Klatt believes the Buffaloes will be on the right track if this is solved.

“If they keep Shedeur Sanders upright and he can throw to some of these players on the outside like Travis Hunter, watch out! Colorado is going to win a lot of games,” Klatt said.

Despite Colorado's struggles in 2023, Shedeur Sanders was one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns during his first season in Boulder. He has the potential to be even better this season.