Deion Sanders is aiming for a significant leap in 2026 after Colorado finished a disappointing 3-9 season in 2025, including a 1-8 record in the Big 12. The season was defined by struggles on the field, compounded by Coach Prime’s health concerns.
Meanwhile, Colorado was also dampened by a huge recruiting blow on Sunday.
Deion Sanders Loses a Key Commitment After Introducing New Rules for Players
Four-star cornerback Dolph McDonald decommitted from Colorado on Sunday afternoon. The Mississippi product had been committed to the Buffaloes’ 2027 class since Dec. 6, but has decided to reopen his recruitment while still keeping the PFSN College Football Defense Impact Metric’s No. 77 team, Colorado, in the mix.
“I want to thank Coach (Brennan) Marion for offering me the opportunity to play football at the University of Colorado. It’s still early in my recruitment, and I want to allow myself time to assess every opportunity before I make a decision about where I want to play in the future. That being said, I am decommitting but will keep Colorado in consideration,” McDonald tweeted.
In the latest Rivals300 rankings, McDonald is listed as the nation’s No. 236 overall prospect and the No. 24 cornerback in the 2027 class. He had been the only player committed to Colorado in that cycle.
McDonald’s decision came just a day after news broke that Sanders unveiled a new accountability structure at Colorado’s official kickoff in Boulder, aimed at setting standards for the upcoming season and affecting players’ NIL earnings. Under the policy, the Buffaloes will now issue fines for missed team responsibilities.
Sanders detailed the system to his players, laying out specific penalties: $5,000 for inappropriate conduct on social media or in public, $2,500 for missing practice, $2,000 for skipping meetings or film sessions, $500 for being late to practice, $1,500 for missing strength and conditioning, and $1,500 for missing treatment.
Sanders also set rules for players to have no food, drinks, or cellphones in meeting rooms. He also banned non-Nike apparel at official events and prohibited the wearing of uniforms from previous programs.
“I’m supposed to have 100-something men, but not everyone’s a man right now,” Sanders said. “But through this process, and that’s what I love, the process. I’m really not in love with the results. I’m in love with the process. I like the struggle. I like the journey. We’re in the process right now.
“But I need men. I don’t need boys. I don’t need blamers, or people that’s on a list. I don’t need naysayers. I don’t need people who sold this court amongst other men, who talk about program, who talk about this. And I’m not having it this year. Ain’t no way in the world, because we’re winning whether you like it or not.”
Sanders signed just 12 players during the Early Signing Period in December. He will now need to lean heavily on high school recruiting to rebuild the 2027 class, as many of Colorado’s early targets in the cycle have already committed elsewhere or are trending toward other programs.
