The Colorado Buffaloes have given their critics plenty to work with. Cris Carter figures the people deciding Deion Sanders' future will also have a calculator handy.
The Hall of Fame receiver believes Sanders' economic impact buys him more time in Boulder. Even with the losses piling up and talented players leaving, Carter expects Coach Prime to remain on the sideline next season.
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Cris Carter Explains Why Colorado Could Stick With Deion Sanders
Carter urged caution against writing off Sanders, citing the unusual circumstances of his arrival and the attention he brought to the program.
"For one, we've never really had a situation like Deion [Sanders]," Carter said in the Instagram clip
.
He highlighted Sanders' move from Jackson State alongside Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, two players whose talent helped make Colorado a national attraction. Carter argued that the university and surrounding businesses benefited from the spotlight, specifically bringing up the hotel business.
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"So now it's an economic question. Can we still compete in the Big 12, put a roster out there, and is Deion [Sanders] the person to do that?" Carter asked
.
That is the calculation Carter believes will shape Colorado's decision. His comments offered a prediction about Sanders' job security, with the coach's commercial appeal carrying considerable weight.
Sanders is already under contract through 2029 after signing a five-year, $54 million extension in 2025, adding another financial consideration to any decision about his future.
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The football side has become harder to sell. Colorado is 2–3 after three consecutive losses, most recently falling 29–7 to Texas Tech on Oct. 3. The Buffaloes scored just 13 points in the previous week's loss to Baylor.
Colorado also sits outside the top 50 in PFN's College Team Offense Impact
rankings, updated Oct. 6. The offense has supplied little relief as questions about Sanders' results continue to mount
.
Roster Losses Complicate Sanders' Next Step
Carter acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining the excitement once the players who helped create it move on. He also questioned Colorado's ability to keep attracting elite recruits while losing major pieces.
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Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton is a particularly painful example. The former five-star recruit transferred to LSU to play for Lane Kiffin after starting 22 games across two seasons at Colorado. Replacing that kind of experience at left tackle is a substantial assignment.
"When you start to lose players like that, they're not going to get any more five-star players in Colorado," Carter said
.
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That was Carter's warning about recruiting. His forecast for Sanders' employment was much more forgiving.
"I think they bring him back for next season because of the economics and what he's done from an economic standpoint compared to the results on the football field," he said
.
Carter's argument gives Sanders time to fix the roster. It still leaves him with the job of making Saturdays worth the price of admission.
This article originally appeared on
Pro Football Network
.
