If there’s one thing fans of the Colorado Buffaloes should know about the team’s next offensive coordinator, Breannan Marion, it’s that he’s one of a kind.
From his signature cowboy hat down to his “Go-Go” offense, Marion seeks to bring that flash to Boulder to help rejuvenate a Colorado squad fresh off a disappointing 3-9 season. The former Sacramento State head man has found offensive success at every stop so far, but what will that look like in Colorado?
I’m seeing double, four running backs
One of the most unique features of the “Go-Go” offense is a formation in which two running backs line up on the same side as the quarterback. While that might sound limiting, Marion uses that formation to confuse the defense with tricky-to-defend runs, options and RPOs in an up-tempo offense.
The Buffs’ offense next season should see a lot of this formation with Julian Lewis in shotgun or pistol, and do wonders for their run game. When the formation is working its magic, large running lanes are opened by linebackers who get shifted out of position in an attempt to follow the ball behind the line of scrimmage. At times last season for Sacramento State, it looked as if the defense was playing with nobody up the middle, giving their running back a free first down before they were even touched.
While there’s no question the Big 12 will be a step up in competition, Marion has coached at every level of college ball and should be able to adapt to the growing strength of the conference’s defenses.
Best to get moving
Marion has made his offense work with every kind of quarterback, but I’ve seen the most success when the quarterback can contribute in the run game. Giving Marion as many tools as possible will help him keep opposing defenses guessing with his up-tempo play-calling style.
That’s why Buffs fans should expect to see Lewis on the move much more than last season. While not his signature trait, Lewis showed off some great wheels against Arizona and escapability against West Virginia. Those two traits will be key in the “Go-Go” offense, which will ask the young quarterback to do a lot with his legs. Lewis’s development will be paramount for the Buffs moving forward, especially in the run game, as the team transitions to Marion’s offense.
The need, the need for speed
Not only will Marion bring a far quicker offensive style, but he’s the perfect coordinator to get the most out of Colorado’s wide receiving core. The 2025 Buffaloes receivers had game-breaking speed down to the last guy on the depth chart, but they never could fully find a way to use them to get the offense going.
Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Marion was using track stars and guys with similar speeds to tear up the FCS when they got the ball to him. Ernest Campbell, a redshirt freshman track star from Texas A&M, was a walking highlight for the Hornets last season, averaging 20 yards a reception and posting 755 receiving yards on 37 catches. The height of his use was a stellar game against the Montana Grizzlies, one of the best teams in the FCS, where he had 206 yards on nine catches.
Colorado will have to work to maintain their speedy core, but if it does, it would signal a new era for the Buffs’ downfield passing game. Especially with the arm talent Lewis showed in the game against the Mountaineers, it seems all Marion will have to do is scheme these guys open, and he can definitely do that.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football offense expectations under Brennan Marion
