Deion Sanders has never been afraid to do things differently, and his latest move at Colorado has once again caught the attention of the college football world.
During a recent practice, Sanders allowed Colorado players to replace their traditional surnames on practice jerseys with their personal Instagram and X handles. He previously used the same approach in 2023 and 2024. The move reflects Coach Prime’s belief that college athletes should have every opportunity to build their personal brands and gain more visibility in the NIL era.
Deion Sanders’ IG Jersey Move Sparks CFB Reactions
Sanders has previously made it clear that today’s players want to be noticed, followed, and recognized. He believes coaches should help athletes make the most of their marketability.
Not everyone, however, sees the practice jersey move the same way.
While Sanders views it as another way to promote his players, some fans believe Colorado is putting too much emphasis on branding and social media attention.
The reaction online was immediate.
El Aurens joked that the trend may not last long once the games begin, saying, “That’ll be coming off voluntarily sometime around halftime of their second game.”
That’ll be coming off voluntarily sometime around halftime of their second game.
— El Aurens (@mhales2535) September 2, 2026
Another fan took aim at Colorado ahead of its season opener against Georgia Tech, writing, “God, I hope GTech beats them by 70.”
Archibald Bunker mocked Sanders’ unconventional approach, saying, “Hire a clown, you must accept the circus.”
Hire a clown you must accept the circus
— Archibald Bunker (@meathead13234) September 2, 2026
Josh Hill was even more critical of Sanders and the Buffaloes, writing, “No. Deion is a joke. Colorado is a joke. They will win 2 games this year in the weakest conference in football.”
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Rory Allen also questioned whether Colorado’s approach is more focused on marketing than winning, saying, “Just look at the coach who allows it. Nothing but a marketing show with a losing team.”
Another commenter shared a similar view, writing, “The program that pays for clicks.”
The program that pays for clicks 😆
— Vegas Frog🎙️ (@GolfingFrogs) September 2, 2026
The jerseys are only being used during practices. Colorado players will still wear their traditional surnames and standard numbers during official games.
The move also shows the growing gap between traditional college football and the new NIL era.
Pressure Builds on Deion Sanders
Sanders enters the 2026 season under pressure after Colorado finished 3-9 last year.
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The Buffaloes enjoyed a much stronger 2024 campaign, finishing 9-4 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play behind Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. However, last season’s struggles have raised the expectations surrounding Sanders heading into his fourth year.
Colorado has also leaned heavily on the transfer portal to rebuild its roster. The Buffaloes added more than 40 transfers while losing over 30 players, bringing plenty of experience but also raising questions about depth and team chemistry.
Colorado will begin its 2026 season against Georgia Tech on Thursday, September 3, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
