Ex-Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders didn't get degree, contrary to reports

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns greets teammates prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns takes on the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after getting sacked by Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

Shedeur Sanders #12 and Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders passes against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders arrives before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns greets teammates prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns takes on the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

9 / 12

See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after getting sacked by Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs against Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) tackles Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. on Nov. 23, 2025.

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See Shedeur Sanders make first NFL career start for Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders #12 and Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.

‘Graduation’ posts led to widespread coverage

Shedeur posted a photo of his cap and gown from his father’s office that day, plus another photo from the ceremony. These posts, combined with the university’s social media posts, led to widespread attention online, including numerous news articles that stated he graduated and obtained his degree, including on ESPN and Fox News.

This happened last year, too, when Colorado’s social media accounts showed Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at the graduation ceremony at Folsom Field and said he “GOT THAT DEGREE!”

USA TODAY Sports asked the university for confirmation on Sanders’ and Hunter’s graduation status after neither Sanders nor Hunter were listed in the school’s annual graduation program in May 2025 or May 2026. This program otherwise lists thousands of graduates or degree candidates from the fall and spring semesters. Shedeur Sanders and Hunter also were not listed in an annual list of Colorado athletes who graduated in 2025 and 2026.

Travis Hunter’s graduation status

The school also confirmed last year that Hunter didn’t actually graduate in May 2025, despite being portrayed as such by the school on social media. The school instead said he was opting to walk in the ceremony early before his scheduled graduation in December 2025. However, the school since has declined to say if Hunter followed through on completing his degree, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects student academic records from disclosure.

The university otherwise regularly confirms when students do actually graduate in the commencement program and in news releases about athletes who graduated.

“The commencement program lists the names of students who either graduated (fall semester) or applied to graduate (spring or summer semester) in that academic year,” the university website states.

Why does their graduation status matter?

Both Sanders and Hunter are the most high-profile athletes Colorado has had since the 1990s. Getting them back on campus to celebrate graduation boosted the school’s image and marketing reach with widespread attention on social media.

In both cases, the university’s social media posts about them led to widespread news coverage that stated they graduated. Both players also promoted the notion that they graduated.

To make sure it was true, USA TODAY sought to confirm the facts about two public figures at a public institution after noticing they were not included in the commencement program.

Incidentally, the university also retired the jersey numbers of Hunter and Sanders in 2025 even though the school previously said it required athletes to graduate from the school before they would be eligible for such an honor.

Pro players often leave school early

Both players left the university to pursue pro football careers, leaving them short of the credits needed to obtain degrees. This is common among top athletes and sometimes leads to former players returning to college years later to get their degrees. For example, former Colorado offensive lineman Pete Brock returned to get his degree and graduate May 2, 50 years after he left the school and was the No. 12 overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft.

Unlike Shedeur or Hunter, Brock’s name is listed in the graduation program. The school also confirmed Brock’s graduation from the school.

Why Deion Sanders didn’t attend graduation ceremony

It’s also not uncommon for students to walk in a graduation ceremony “early” even if they aren’t scheduled to actually complete their coursework until the next semester. The school said this was the case with Hunter last year after its social media accounts said Hunter got his degree in May 2025 even though he hadn’t.

“It was just a social media staffer who didn’t know that (Hunter) was just walking” in the ceremony, Colorado athletics spokesman Hurlbert said in May 2025.

Messages seeking comment from Hunter through his agents and his NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, were not returned. A message seeking comment from Shedeur Sanders through the Browns also wasn’t returned.

Coach Deion Sanders seemed surprised by his son Shedeur’s attendance at the May 2 graduation ceremony at Folsom Field. Deion Sanders was out of town at the time and later was asked about why he wasn’t there for it, as documented by Well Off Media.

“He didn’t tell me,” Deion Sanders said.

Colorado confirmed last year that Sanders' middle son Shilo graduated with a master's degree in organizational leadership. His youngest daughter Shelomi recently graduated from Alabama A&M, as confirmed by that university.

Colorado athletics issued a statement on Shedeur Sanders

Here is Colorado's statement on Shedeur Sanders' attendance at commencement:

“We are so thrilled that Shedeur Sanders came back to Boulder to celebrate commencement with his fellow students. The commencement ceremony at Folsom Field doesn’t just happen once a year, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for graduates to celebrate their impressive accomplishment with family and friends.

“Shedeur’s dedication to working toward his degree while playing in the NFL only reinforces our pride in him and is why he will always be a ‘Forever Buff’ to every CU student, alumnus, and fan. Shedeur completed the requisite number of credits to participate in the spring commencement ceremony on May 2, which is an opportunity available to all CU students who similarly qualify.

“Success in competition and in the classroom is the hallmark of what it means to be a Buff and Shedeur continues to be a shining example of our football program, our Athletic Department, and our university.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders didn't graduate from Colorado yet actually