How good of a coach is Deion Sanders? BYU game will be revealing

Story by

Story by
How good of a coach is Deion Sanders? BYU game will be revealing

Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Sep 26, 2025 ·

3 min read

About Our Ads

The quarterback controversy at Colorado is finally over now apparently, bringing an admitted sense of "relief" to the Buffaloes after sorting through three players at that position in the first three games .

But now comes a telling test for Deion Sanders in his third season as Colorado 's coach. And it's probably the biggest one yet for him since he lost several top players to the NFL from last year's team, including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and his quarterback son Shedeur .

The Buffaloes host undefeated No. 24 Brigham Young on Saturday night Sept. 27.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his father Deion Sanders on the sideline before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on Dec. 28, 2025. Shedeur Sanders made seven starts during his rookie season with the Browns, going 3-4 in those games.

(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)

2024: Deion Sanders embraces Travis Hunter after the wide receiver/cornerback won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
(Todd Van Emst, Heisman Trust via Imagn Images)

2024: Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and social media producer Deion Sanders Jr. following a win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

2023: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and celebrity guest picker Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson exchange pleasantries on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the Buffaloes game against Colorado State at Folsom Field on Boulder, Colorado.
(Andrew Wevers, USA TODAY Sports)

2023: Colorado coach Deion Sanders in attendance before the national championship game.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders is introduced as the head coach of the University of Colorado.
(Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders went 27-6 in three seasons leading Jackson State.
(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders enters the field with his team before the start of the game against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., on Sept. 4, 2022.
(Rich Storry, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

2021: Deion Sanders coaches during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders required a scooter following blood clot issues that ultimately led to the amputation of some toes.
(Mickey Welsh, USA TODAY NETWORK)

2017: Deion Sanders, working for NFL Network, interviews New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Melissa Stark (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Kurt Warner (right) smile during an NFL Network broadcast at the Super Bowl XLIX NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center on Jan. 26, 2015.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Rich Eisen (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Dec. 5, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

2013: Deion Sanders as "Leon Sandcastle" of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

NFL network broadcaster Deion Sanders interviews San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 29, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders reports the action from the sidelines during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders makes his return to football with the Baltimore Ravens after a three-year retirement in the 2004 season opener iat Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns beat the Ravens, 20-3, in the game.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.
(Ray Amati, Getty Images)

Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.
(JEFF KOWALSKY, AFP via Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys' Deion Sanders outdistances Indianapolis Colts defensive back Tito Wooten to score a touchdown at the RCA Dome on Oct. 31, 1999.
(JOHN RUTHROFF, AFP via Getty Images)

Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.
(Tony Tomsic, USA TODAY Sports)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders covers San Diego Chargers receiver Shawn Jefferson during Super Bowl XXIX at the Joe Robbie Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chargers, 49-26.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a game against the Miami Dolphins, then flew to Pittsburgh for the Atlanta Braves' NLCS game against the Pirates (he did not appear in the game).
(H. DARR BEISER, USA TODAY)

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) on a kick return against the Green Bay Packers at Fulton County Stadium on Dec. 1, 1991.
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)

The Atlanta Braves' Deion Sanders bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 1991.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

1991: Deion Sanders attempts a steal against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fulton County Stadium. Sanders spent four seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 1991-94.
(USA TODAY Sports)

1990: Pro Football Hall of Famers duel at Milwaukee County Stadium as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders covers Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe.
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)

The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 17, 1989.
(US PRESSWIRE)

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Cowboys, 21-17, on Sept. 17, 1989.
(US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders was a two-time All-American, the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner and a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
(Allen Steele, Getty Images)

Deion Sanders in action for Florida State during the 1987 season.
(Malcolm Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

After starting the season with a 2-2 record, are the Buffs a soft and mistake-prone team, like they seemed to be during losses against Georgia Tech and Houston? Or are they a dynamic force to be reckoned with, led by a take-charge quarterback?

The latter is what they appeared to be in a 37-20 win last week against Wyoming . But Wyoming isn't nearly as good as BYU .

"We gotta win these type of games," Sanders said at a news conference Tuesday in Boulder. "We gotta be dominant in these type of games. But one thing that we want to do: We want to give our best effort. We don't want to walk away from the game saying, 'Dang, we could have played better' We don't want to do that like in Houston. We played like garbage, man."

Why this is a critical game for Deion Sanders

If the Buffs drop another Big 12 Conference game Saturday night, they will fall to 0-2 in league play heading into a road game the next week against undefeated No. 25 TCU.

A loss would severely damage their chances to play for the Big 12 title and even become eligible for a postseason bowl game. A win does the opposite, keeping those dreams within realistic grasp.

The game is a rematch of the Alamo Bowl last December, when BYU won easily, 36-14 . But both teams have made big changes since then, most notably at quarterback.

At Colorado , Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter engineered the win against Wyoming, throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. He's the undisputed top QB now, not Ryan Staub , who started the Houston game , or Julian Lewis , the freshman who recently turned 18.

"Yes, I do sense a relief," Buffaloes defensive lineman Amari McNeill said Tuesday about the resolution at quarterback. "We all got that figured out and… We can do our own job and just worry about dominating."

But what if Salter has a bad game? That's another reason this game is a big one for Sanders. He doesn't want to go back to rotating quarterbacks.

Will Colorado's 'mini-NFL program' show its muscle?

It helps Sanders that Colorado's quarterbacks have receiving targets who have filled in well for Hunter, the departed receiver/cornerback. The big one is 6-5 Sincere Brown , who has touchdown receptions of 71 and 68 yards. He compares himself to Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

"A lot of people like to call me Moss Jr.," Brown said.

Sanders said he wants Brown to "shine like a Christmas tree" and get more involved.

But Colorado misses Hunter's playmaking on defense. The Buffs rank 121stnationally in rushing defense, having given up an average of 194.5 yards on the ground.

Now comes BYU running back LJ Martin , who ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. This year, he ranks ninth nationally with 114 rushing yards per game.

Brown, who transferred to Colorado from Campbell, said Colorado is like a "mini-NFL program" with its Pro Football Hall of Famers on staff, including Sanders, running backs coach Marshall Faulk and pass-rush coach Warren Sapp.

How that pro pedigree translates into college coaching success is still an open question, to be answered to some degree with a big physical test Saturday at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

"Every week is a proving ground," Deion Sanders said.

Perhaps none more so this year than Saturday.

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders, Colorado face BYU in fork-in-road Big 12 test

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by:

How good of a coach is Deion Sanders? BYU game will be revealing

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Why this is a critical game for Deion Sanders

Will Colorado's 'mini-NFL program' show its muscle?