Deion Sanders signed a massive five-year, $54 million contract extension with the Colorado Buffaloes in late March, but the celebration already feels like a distant memory. This season, Sanders has coached the team to a disappointing 3-6 record, including a 1-5 mark in the Big 12 Conference. After starting 2-2, the Buffaloes have lost four of their last five games, including a 46-point drubbing by Utah and a 35-point beatdown by Arizona.
Now, Coach Prime and his team face a must-win road game against West Virginia to remain in bowl contention. While the team’s performance has put Sanders’ position at risk, the immediate focus is on the steep price of a potential breakup before the season even ends.
How Much Would Colorado Owe Deion Sanders in a Buyout?
The contract details reveal a two-way street for a potential split. If Deion Sanders steps down on or before Dec. 31, 2025, he would owe Colorado $12 million in liquidated damages. That number drops to $10 million in 2026, $6 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028, and $3 million by 2029.
However, the tables turn if the university makes a move. If Colorado fires Sanders without cause before Dec. 31, he would receive a staggering $33,625,000 buyout. According to Shehan Jeyarajah, a college football reporter for CBS Sports, that figure is likely too high for the university to consider paying at this time.
That exorbitant buyout amount essentially protects Coach Prime’s job for the time being, making an early termination financially difficult for the athletic department. Despite the team’s messy situation, Colorado athletic director Rick George recently voiced his backing for the 57-year-old coach.
“I support Coach Prime 100%,” George wrote.
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Prior to last week’s game against Arizona, Sanders stated that he would call plays for the Buffaloes until his contract expires, and he assured the media that he is healthy enough to coach. After the 35-point setback to the Wildcats, however, he took full accountability for the defeat and blamed himself.
On Saturday, Coach Prime hopes to steer the team away from a losing season when Colorado takes on West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. In a significant change, he is set to start freshman Julian Lewis at quarterback after his first two choices, Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub, struggled in the first nine games.
Regardless of what the future holds for Sanders, his rapid rise from an assistant coach at a local private school to a respected leader at Jackson State and Colorado is undeniable. Along the way, he produced future NFL players, including Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and Isaiah Bolden, and led the Buffaloes to the Alamo Bowl.