Deion Sanders recharges before returning to Boulder ahead of 2026 season

Deion Sanders and his staff tried something out-of-the-box this week. 

The Colorado Buffaloes went over 100 miles south from Boulder to Fountain Fort Carson High School to open fall camp. While the week of practice seems to be normal with a change of scenery, the 'road trip' was more important for team bonding.   This is the first time Sanders' took his team away for an entire week. The NFL-style training camp model is what Coach Prime is leaning into here. However, will it work to boost the team aspect for the Buffs?

"We wanted to go somewhere away that was significant," Sanders said about the trip. "Not around the corner like 30 minutes, 45 minutes. We wanted to get away so they couldn't have really the contacts or urge to drive back home -- even though we're on buses, they're not doing that -- no visitations or anything like that, no outside foot coming in.

"Sanders wants his team to be disciplined, especially away from Boulder. The Buffs will open the season with two big road trips to Atlanta with Georgia Tech and outside Chicago for Northwestern. This is about attention to detail with Sanders. Being able to have the player put down their phones is part of the rules. 

"They're off the phone. We monitor that, and they're really getting to know each other and really getting a bond. Like, I sat at a table with a group of guys yesterday and they were telling me stories."

Coach Prime's Buffs are coming off a terrible 3-9 season, which ended on a five-game losing streak. But very little of the blame can be put on Sanders. Not many people would've been able to do his job under the same circumstances. He beat bladder cancer and is now free of the disease that kept him sidelined throughout most of last preseason. Sanders' staff features new offensive Brennan Marion and defensive coordinator Chris Marve.

The duo are expected to help the Buffs try to become a consistent contender. What's at stake in Boulder is a 22-year postseason losing streak, but also a 16-21 record under Sanders with one legitimate season in 2024. 

"The young men are responding to them," Sanders said about his new coaches. "Even special teams, we're doing that in a collaborative effort. We're unified on that. ... It's been great. I love the energy that these coaches are providing and a new group of kids helps out tremendously."

The Buffs have 44 transfer players coming into the program this season. One of the biggest numbers to keep an eye on will be how many newcomers will be starting. This is no different from Sanders's first two seasons in Boulder.

Sanders was asked about pressure creeping into his future at Colorado. "I apply pressure, I don't feel pressure." he said. "This is football; I'm really good at this. I can play this. I can coach this. I can do this."Colorado opens the season against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).   

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