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Colorado football’s third season with Deion Sanders at the helm has been met with significant headwinds. The Buffaloes have dropped four of their last five games and enter a Week 11 matchup with West Virginia with a 3-6 record.
Nevertheless, Sanders continues to have the support of one of the university’s most important athletic decision makers. Rick George, Colorado’s athletic director, expressed confidence in the job Coach Prime is doing. George’s only preference would be for the team to pick up more wins.
“I’m proud of Coach Prime. It’s been a tough year he’s been through. He’s been a trooper, worked hard, motivated. He’s doing the things I want him to do as a coach. We’ve just got to win more FB games,” George told reporters.
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Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, left, has a conversation with CU athletic director Rick George after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 45-42 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 2, 2023. (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
George appeared to be referring to Sanders’ health struggles, a closely followed topic leading up to the regular season. In July, Sanders announced doctors had removed his bladder after the discovery of a tumor. Sanders said there have been no signs of cancer since the surgery.
DEION SANDERS DENYS BIGGEST SURPRISE AT COLORADO HOME GAME: ‘IT NEVER FAILS’
Doctors said part of Sanders’ intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder. Sanders faced questions about whether he would be ready to coach after his health scare, but he remains steadfast in his commitment to Colorado.
Sanders was named the head coach of the Colorado football program in December 2022. He took over a program that won just one game the previous season. Sanders, a charismatic NFL legend, immediately focused on a program that had long been an afterthought.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders calls a timeout in the first half of a game against TCU Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
This season, Sanders has routinely faced opposing teams with a significant talent advantage. Coach Prime hasn’t had much recruiting success lately. Last year, Colorado made the jump to the Big 12 Conference. The Buffaloes won nine games in 2024 but have struggled to find replacements for two-way player Travis Hunter or quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Hunter was the second overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, while Shedeur was drafted in the fifth round.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before a game against Utah Oct. 25, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Kaidon Salter transferred from the Liberty to Colorado in the offseason, but his patchy performance has opened the door for fellow quarterback Julian Lewis and others to see playing time.
Sanders barred players from speaking to the media after the Buffaloes’ 52-17 loss to Arizona last week. Saturday’s Colorado-West Virginia game is scheduled to start at noon ET at Milan Puskar Stadium.
