Colorado may have a tough road ahead as it prepares to join the Big 12 for the 2024 college football season.

In the first media poll since the Buffaloes officially rejoined the conference, they were picked 11th out of the 16 teams in the conference. They were third among the former Pac-12 teams entering the conference.

Colorado went 4-8 in 2023 and 1-11 in 2022. Still, it has appeared motivated to take a step forward in Deion Sanders' second season as head coach, but the lack of faith from the voters casts some doubt on that prospect.

The Buffaloes took down TCU in the 2023 season, with the Horned Frogs being the only Big 12 team they faced. Colorado also earned a victory against Big 10 foe Nebraska, but it only managed a single win in Pac-12 play.

The Buffaloes will need to flip that conference luck in 2024 if they are to improve. They have matchups against the five top-ranked teams in the media poll in 2024 and only play two teams ranked lower than them.

Still, with star talent such as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Colorado could surprise some people, even if the media covering the league is down on the team heading into the season.