The Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders are opening up the 2025 season at home against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on August 29 at 8 p.m. ET.
However, the offense will be starting the season without redshirt junior Dallan Hayden, who, along with sophomore Micah Welch, was one of two Colorado running backs to be named to the Doak Walker Award watchlist.
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Dallan Hayden to Miss Start of the 2025 Season
Unfortunately for the Buffaloes, Hayden is set to miss the start of the 2025 season, with Christopher Neely of Thee Pregame Show reporting in a video posted by DNVR Buffs, “Dallan is going to be down a couple of weeks with a hand issue.”
This isn’t the first time Hayden has dealt with injuries during his Colorado tenure. Last season, he wound up missing two games after suffering a high ankle sprain in the Buffaloes’ matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
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Colorado Buffaloes running back Dallan Hayden.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
By the end of the 2024 season, his production was limited, appearing in 11 games, racking up just 64 carries, 196 yards and one touchdown. One bright aspect was his efficiency as a receiver, hauling in 17 catches for 132 yards.
In the past, though, he’s proven to put up better numbers, combining for 130 carries, 663 yards, six touchdowns, five receptions, and 21 yards in 2022 and 2023 for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Colorado’s Running Back Battle Without Dallan Hayden
Hayden had a chance to see a serious bump in production in 2025, considering he was battling for the starting spot with Welch, senior DeKalon Taylor and redshirt senior Simeon Price, according to Jack Freeman of Buffaloes Wire.
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He was making some serious noise too, with Freeman reporting that Hayden was impressive during the Buffaloes’ spring practice, while highlighting his “multi-dimensional aspect.”
With Hayden now dealing with this hand injury, though, it takes him out of the running, and the battle to be the first running back on the field against Georgia Tech gets a bit thinner.
Related: Ohio State Dealt Concerning Update on Elite 5-Star Recruit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
