Big 12 Football: 3 schools the conference needs to consider adding

2. Colorado Buffaloes

It’s okay to admit you’ve made a mistake. Colorado made a mistake leaving the Big 12 and going west. Admit it, send a fruit basket, make up and come back to the Big 12. The Buffalos, much like the Cornhuskers in the Big Ten, suffer from a lack of identity in the Pac-12.

The Buffs have no natural rival in the Pac-12 and have struggled mightily since joining the conference on the left-coast. That is the primary reason for the Buffaloes to come back to the Big 12. If they come back with Nebraska, they’ll have their most heated rival.

Colorado struggled toward the end of their time in the Big 12, and that was due to many internal issues at the university. However, like Nebraska, Texas is a key to Colorado’s recovery. They have not recruited California as they did in the Bill McCartney era.

Having a coach who can recruit and the university’s continued financial commitment to athletic facilities might be more important to the school’s revival as a relevant football program than moving back to the Big 12, but Colorado just belongs in the Big 12.

Colorado does not have a great recruiting footprint and they’ve recruited other states and used JUCOs well during the times they’ve been good. However, during their last run of relevance, the Buffalos recruited Texas well.

A move back to their original home just might be a step back to relevance for the Buffalos.