Deion Sanders enforces new policy on alumni interactions, says former Colorado player

Deion Sanders enforces new policy on alumni interactions, says former Colorado player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When the announcement was made that the former Jackson State head football Coach Deion Sanders was going to be taking his talents to the Colorado Buffaloes in December 2022, everyone bought into the allure of the "Prime Effect." Now three and a half years later, the program has yet to win a conference championship. At 16-21, Coach Prime continues to usher in new coaches and turnover rosters at the end of each season.

Sanders had the Buffs believing he had the Midas touch, only to watch talent choose to play elsewhere instead of developing and needing to fill gaps when injuries occur, keeping the team competing. The transfer portal hasn’t been as beneficial as many expected because there are more programs recruiting the top talent to play for their programs.

The Buffs' projected 27 million deficit for the 2026 fiscal year has raised a lot of questions, with nothing to show for almost doubling Sanders' initial salary to $10 million annually, and the $20.5 million for student-athlete revenue sharing to recruit them. Also, the operating expenses that football costs CU athletics, with traveling, lodging, and feeding the players and the band, can become a bit expensive. Take into account that the ticket revenue from 2023 to 2025 has declined by about 23 percent, despite the team having a winning 2024 season.

The Buffs' 3-9 record last year has analysts thinking this will be a four-win season. Losing former five-star Jordan Seaton to the and the lack of recruiting by Coach Prime and his coaching staff have them ranked 15th out of 16 in the Big 12, according to 247Sports. To make matters worse, players in the state of Colorado are choosing to pursue continuing their collegiate football career at universities outside the Centennial State.