Deion Sanders has never been short on attention since taking the reins of the Colorado Buffaloes, but the spotlight now comes with tougher questions. The Buffaloes are entering another season trying to recover from a disappointing campaign with a roster that looks very different from its early Coach Prime years.
Sanders has made major changes to address the previous problems, yet concerns about Colorado’s ability to compete are still present. This has prompted one prominent NFL insider to take a hard look at where the program stands.
Mike Florio Delivers Blunt Assessment of Deion Sanders and Colorado
NFL insider Mike Florio believes Colorado has yet to turn the attention surrounding Sanders into the type of recruiting success needed to build a consistent winner. He also pointed to concerns about the Buffaloes’ size and physicality as they prepare for another demanding college football season.
“It’s no surprise. Colorado hasn’t parlayed the Coach Prime effect into the kind of recruits that can win more games than they lose. This year, the program is fighting a narrative that the players look too small,” Florio wrote.
“The games start soon,” Florioa dded. “Sanders’s contract, a five-year, $54 million deal signed after the 2024 season, runs through 2029. Which each passing year, the buyout shrinks. Absent a turnaround, the powers-that-be in Boulder will eventually bite the buyout bullet and move on.”
The assessment comes after Colorado finished 3-9 in 2025, giving Sanders a 16-21 record since taking over before the 2023 season. His tenure began with a 4-8 record, followed by a 9-4 campaign in 2024 before the program took a major step backward last season.
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Sanders responded with significant changes heading into 2026. Colorado brought in more than 40 transfer players, while quarterback Julian Lewis is expected to lead the offense after Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter moved on to the NFL.
The coaching staff also received a major overhaul. Brennan Marion became the offensive coordinator, while Chris Marve took over the defense. Sanders has also introduced a fine system, unrelated to players’ NIL deals, that can dock players $400 to $5,000 for team-rule violations.
The concerns extend beyond Colorado’s results on the field. Pro Football Talk reported that ESPN viewership for Colorado games dropped 67% from 2023 to 2025, raising questions about whether the national attention that followed Sanders to Boulder has started to fade.
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Jason Whitlock offered an even harsher prediction while discussing the program’s direction. The former ESPN personality said, “The Prime Effect is wearing off on television networks,” before predicting Colorado would win no more than three or four games in 2026.
Whitlock later added, “I think the Coach Prime deal is coming to a predictable end,” and argued that “all the shine has come off of Deion” following Shedeur’s departure.
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Colorado will get its first opportunity to answer those concerns Sept. 5 on the road against Georgia Tech. With the program entering a critical fourth season under Sanders, the results will determine whether Colorado can change the growing doubts around his tenure.
