The heat is turning up on Deion Sanders at Colorado – could this legendary coach's time with the Buffaloes be drawing to a close? If you're a college football fan, you've probably heard the buzz, and it's only getting louder after yet another tough defeat.
It's been a rough stretch for head coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes team, with results pointing downward more often than not. Just this past weekend, the Buffs endured a crushing 52-17 defeat at the hands of Arizona, a game that left fans shaking their heads. This setback pushed Colorado's overall record to 3-6, and in the competitive Big 12 conference, they're sitting at 1-5. For those new to college football, missing out on a bowl game – which is basically a postseason reward for teams with winning records or strong showings – now looks like a real possibility for the program, adding even more urgency to their situation.
On the offensive side, things were particularly dismal. The Buffaloes could only muster 299 total yards, and most of that came once Arizona had already secured the win and benched their top players in the second half. By halftime, the Wildcats were dominating with a 38-7 advantage, stretching it to 45-7 before Colorado managed a couple of garbage-time scores late on. Imagine trying to build momentum when you're already so far behind – it's like starting a race halfway through and expecting to catch up.
This loss fits into a troubling pattern: Colorado has dropped four out of their last five contests, with their lone bright spot being a surprising victory over Iowa State a couple of weeks back. Looking at the bigger picture, the Buffs have been hammered in their most recent outings, getting outscored 105-24 combined by powerhouses like Arizona and Utah. These kinds of blowouts don't just hurt the scoreboard; they chip away at team morale and fan confidence.
But here's where it gets controversial... the ongoing disappointments have Buffaloes supporters wondering aloud if the Deion Sanders chapter in Boulder is nearing its end. Frustration boiled over again after this latest thrashing, sparking debates about whether the university might shake things up or if Sanders himself could decide to walk away from the sidelines. One passionate fan put it bluntly: "At what point does Colorado start seriously considering pulling the plug on the Deion Sanders experiment?" (check out the full thread here: https://x.com/bearforheisman/status/1984802295893410041).
Echoing that sentiment, another supporter posed the million-dollar question: "Now the real question is... does Colorado fire Deion Sanders?" (https://x.com/DraftVogel/status/1984793196547776590). And the chatter keeps building – "How loud is the noise for Deion Sanders right about now? Getting blown out two weeks in a row is a terrible look," one post lamented (https://x.com/HypeIsHereMedia/status/1984808097337024890).
Not everyone is ready to hit the eject button, though. A more balanced take came from a fan who reflected, "He walked into an abject disaster and gave us hope, that won't be forgotten." They added, "Going from 1 to 9 wins in two seasons is REAL. But no coach in program history was given the tools that Deion Sanders was off the field. Turning that into this in year 3 is unacceptable" (https://x.com/William_Whelan/status/1984781899957436863). It's a fair point – Sanders arrived with celebrity status, top recruits, and massive resources, which is more than most coaches get. Yet, as this fan implies, expectations were sky-high, and failing to deliver now feels like a betrayal of that investment.
You know, Colorado might fire Coach Prime sooner than the news cycle is prepared for. This is bad," warned another voice in the crowd (https://x.com/GodLovesChiefs/status/1984809185083564355). And for the skeptics, one fan went further: "I didn't anticipate the Deion Sanders era to ever get this bad. He's just not fit to be a head coach" (https://x.com/bighoneydrizzle/status/1984814461702848619). These reactions highlight the divide: Is Sanders a savior who needs more time to rebuild, or has the hype train derailed for good?
Over his three years leading the Buffaloes, Sanders has posted a 16-18 overall mark. He did guide the team to a solid 9-4 finish last season, which earned them a spot in a bowl game – though they unfortunately got routed by BYU in that matchup. For beginners, bowl games are exciting postseason events that celebrate a team's progress, but Colorado's recent slide has erased much of that goodwill.
A rough past couple of games for Deion Sanders and the Buffs 😬 pic.twitter.com/ldK5W5IACD (https://t.co/ldK5W5IACD)
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 2, 2025 (https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1984818424644591621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
And this is the part most people miss: the Buffaloes' offense has been wildly inconsistent all year long, like a car that sputters and stalls at the worst moments. Quarterbacks Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub have had their share of ups and downs, prompting calls from fans to hand the reins to highly touted 5-star freshman Julian Lewis. In Saturday's game, Lewis showed some flashes, going 9-of-17 for 121 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Bringing in a young talent like him could be a fresh start, but it also underscores how unsettled the position has been.
Even amid these on-field headaches, firing Sanders isn't as simple as it sounds. His contract includes a hefty buyout clause – essentially, a financial penalty the school would have to pay if they let him go early. Parting ways this season would cost Colorado over $33 million, which is a staggering sum in college athletics. We've seen schools swallow even larger buyouts before, but for Colorado to do so here would shock the sports world, especially given Sanders' star power and the hope he brought initially.
Thankfully, there's a silver lining on the horizon. The Buffaloes have a promising opportunity to bounce back next Saturday with a trip to Morgantown to take on West Virginia. The Mountaineers are struggling too, at 1-5 in the Big 12, which puts them right alongside Colorado near the bottom of the standings. A win here could spark some momentum and quiet the critics – at least for a week.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on TNT, so tune in if you want to see if Colorado can turn things around.
Now, let's stir the pot a bit: While the buyout makes firing Sanders a tough pill to swallow, some argue it's exactly what the program needs to avoid sinking further – after all, throwing money at problems doesn't always fix them on the field. Others counter that Sanders is laying the groundwork for long-term success, building a culture that recruits love, even if wins are scarce right now. What do you think? Should Colorado stick with Coach Prime through the storms, or is it time to cut ties and start fresh? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – I'd love to hear if you're team 'fire him' or 'give him time,' and why!
