Colorado Football Under Deion Sanders: Progress Amid Challenges
In the third season of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ tenure at Colorado, the football program finds itself navigating considerable challenges. With a current 3-6 record and having lost four of their last five games, the Buffaloes are facing a difficult stretch heading into their Week 11 matchup against West Virginia. Despite these on-field struggles, Athletic Director Rick George recently expressed strong support for Sanders, acknowledging the coach’s efforts while simply noting, “We just gotta win more football games.”
The 2024 season has been complicated by Sanders’ personal health battles, which became a major talking point before the season began. In July, Sanders revealed that doctors had removed his bladder after discovering a tumor. Medical professionals reconstructed a section of his intestine to function as a bladder, and Sanders has reported no evidence of cancer since the procedure. Despite questions about his ability to coach following this serious health scare, Sanders has demonstrated remarkable resilience and unwavering commitment to the Colorado program, continuing to lead from the sidelines despite his physical challenges.
Sanders’ arrival at Colorado in December 2022 marked a dramatic shift for a program that had won just a single game the previous season. His charismatic leadership and NFL Hall of Fame pedigree immediately thrust the long-struggling Buffaloes into the national spotlight. The program’s transition to the Big 12 Conference last year coincided with a nine-win season that generated significant buzz around Colorado football. However, maintaining that momentum has proven difficult, particularly following the departures of star two-way player Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders – Coach Prime’s son – who were selected in the second and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively.
The quarterback position has been especially problematic this season. Transfer Kaidon Salter, who came to Colorado from Liberty, has delivered inconsistent performances that have opened opportunities for freshman Julian Lewis and others to see playing time. This quarterback uncertainty, combined with an overall talent disadvantage against many opponents, has contributed significantly to the team’s struggles. The frustration reached a boiling point after last week’s 52-17 defeat to Arizona, when Sanders made the unusual decision to bar his players from speaking to the media following the lopsided loss.
Despite these setbacks, George’s continued support suggests the university remains committed to Sanders’ vision for rebuilding the program. The athletic director’s comments recognize both the progress made since Sanders’ arrival and the ongoing challenges of competing at a high level in a power conference. The transition from being a feel-good story to establishing consistent success is proving to be a difficult journey, requiring patience and continued development of the roster through recruiting and the transfer portal.
As Colorado prepares to face West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium, Sanders faces the dual challenge of salvaging what remains of this season while laying groundwork for future success. The road ahead requires addressing fundamental team weaknesses, developing younger players, and continuing to build a program that can consistently compete in the Big 12. While the wins haven’t come as frequently as hoped this season, the Sanders era at Colorado remains a work in progress – one that has already dramatically elevated the program’s profile even as it continues to seek on-field success commensurate with its heightened visibility.
