As Deion Sanders’ record mirrors his predecessor’s failures, mounting internal friction and a shifting media narrative signal a critical loss of faith in the Buffaloes' rebuilding project.
Another week resulted in a loss for the Colorado Buffaloes football team. While being 2-2 seems like a win after going 3-9 last season, Deion Sanders and his staff are feeling the heat.
When you consider where Colorado was before Coach Prime arrived in Boulder and compare that to right now, there is no difference. Karl Dorrell ended 3-13 in his final 16 games against Power Four opponents. Sanders holds the same record dating back to the blowout loss to BYU in the 2024 Alamo Bowl.
There are some on Sanders' staff who are trying to establish themselves, including two new coordinators. There is one voice in the room that continues to only say positive or fact-based things, likely to continue getting a certain kind of attention. There’s a longer-tenured voice that generally says positive things while even challenging others in the room who contradict him to gain favor from the famous coach. Even that person has questioned the state of the program and received some direct backlash for it.
The largest indicator, though, is a small group of media personnel who have admitted that they are not actual media at all, and instead operate like a voice for the fans. In two consecutive weeks, they have put out content that begs the question: Are they trying to get banned? Rants that would usually be met with access removal and podcast segments that serve as nothing more than angry fan ranting.
None of this is likely to persuade Sanders to operate any differently. However, it is a staggeringly noteworthy indicator of where the team and the program are. When almost everyone is rooting for your success and suddenly that sentiment changes, especially from those who have previously thought the coach could do no wrong, the program will find itself in a dire situation.
Colorado can underperform and survive to live for another season as long as the supporters outweigh the dissenters. When that tide turns, it’s very difficult to get the passion back. The spin will become less effective and a fan base who loved everything someone did will quickly become, ‘what have you done for me lately’.
Colorado faces two nationally ranked teams in the next two weeks. The good news, if there is any, is that No. 12 Texas Tech and No. 13 Utah will be coming to Folsom Field.
These will be very important matchups at home if the program hopes to put at least some of the support back on their side. If the Buffs can't show a fight, changes need to be made to salvage what is left of the season.
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