Deion Sanders just suffered his worst loss as a college coach, but why? 'This is bad'

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Deion Sanders just suffered his worst loss as a college coach, but why? 'This is bad'

Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sun, Oct 26, 2025 ·

5 min read

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SALT LAKE CITY – With less than two minutes remaining in Saturday night's game at Utah, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders put both hands on his knees and bent over on the sideline.

If it looked like he was getting ready to vomit, pardon him for how he felt. He had never experienced anything quite like this — a 53-7 loss against the Utes on a night when almost everything seemed to go freakishly wrong for Colorado .

"This is bad," Sanders said afterward. "It's probably the worst beating I've ever had since my mama whooped me as a kid."

Deion Sanders (center) puts his hand on his knees toward the end of Colorado's blowout loss at Utah on Oct. 25, 2025.

He's right, at least in terms of his college coaching career. It was the worst loss under Sanders in three seasons at Colorado — a span of 33 games. It also was the worst loss in Sanders' college coaching career overall, including his tenure at Jackson State .

But why?

Colorado was coming off a bye week and its best win of the season in its previous game on Oct. 11- a 24-17 win against Iowa State . Sanders even praised his team's physical week of practice before the game .

Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.
(Andrew Wevers, Getty Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium in Houston on Sept. 12, 2025.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens on Sept. 6, 2025 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders congratulates Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter following a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. on Aug. 29, 2025.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and head coach Todd Bowles look on during the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)

2025: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star on July 9, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
(Raymond Carlin III, Imagn Images)

2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes looks on as a field goal drill is attempted in the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images for ONIT)

2025: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the field during the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Dustin Bradford, Getty Images for ONIT)

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: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches from the sidelines during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

2024: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team plays their spring game at Folsom Field on April 27, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.
(Matthew Stockman, Getty 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)

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)

2011: Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders poses with his bust at the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 6, 2011 in Canton, Ohio.
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)

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)

2003: 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)

2000: 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)

1999: Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders acknowleges the cheering crowd after intercepting his first pass of the game versus the Miami Dolphins at Texas Stadium, November 25,1999 in Irving, Texas.
(Paul Buck, 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)

1997: 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)

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)

The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium 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 had the same question: 'Why?'

Utah outgained the Buffaloes by a margin of 587-140 in total yards, helping drop Colorado to 3-5 this season and 1-3 in the Big 12 Conference. To become eligible for a postseason bowl game, the Buffs now need to win three of their final four regular-season games.

"Let's identify the why first," Sanders said. "You know, that's what I want to know — why? OK, what about this play — why? Who was that? What about that play — why? Why can't we get the ball off? Why? You know? Why? I need to know all these whys before we can move on and even think about something down the street."

The simple answer to the question is the Buffs got whipped up front on both sides of the ball and even added some bad miscues on special teams .

Utah freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin also outplayed Colorado senior Kaidon Salter as a result. Salter had just 37 yards passing and minus-4 yards rushing after getting sacked five times.

By contrast, Ficklin rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and passed for 140 yards and two touchdowns in place of regular starter Devon Dampier , who injured his leg last week in a loss at BYU . It was Ficklin's first career start for Utah, which improved to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 on a cool, breezy night in front of 51,949 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Deion Sanders blamed himself

After the game, a reporter basically asked Sanders what he needs to do now.

"I'm trying to figure that out," said Sanders, who signed a new contract earlier this year worth more than $10 million per year . "I really am."

Sanders also said the assessment of what went wrong "starts with me."

He expressed urgency about it, too.

"We gotta figure this out, like, now," he said. "Now."

Salter, the transfer quarterback from Liberty, said what happened "definitely blindsided me." It was the second time he's been beaten by an opposing freshman quarterback, including a 24-21 loss last month against BYU and its freshman quarterback, Bear Bachmeirer.

"We practiced real hard this week," Salter said. He even said he watched over 10 hours of film to prepare.

And then it all blew up right from the start, when Ficklin broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game.

How bad was it for Colorado and Deion Sanders?

Before halftime, the statistical comparison between the two teams looked like a batch of computer errors instead of a game between peers in a major college football conference.

∎ Total yards in the first half: Utah 398, Colorado minus-18.

∎ Rushing yards in the first half: Utah 260, Colorado minus-41.

∎ First downs in the first half: Utah 16, Colorado 3.

If that wasn't freakish enough, Colorado even tossed in a few other bizarre gaffes before halftime — an intentional grounding call against Salter in the end zone for a Utah safety, a shanked punt into the crowd and a punt that was blocked by Utah .

By the time the first half was over after midnight ET, Utah led 43-0, eclipsing the point differential of the previous worst loss in Sanders' three seasons in Colorado — a 42-point loss at Washington State on Nov. 17, 2023 .

"We just didn't play fast," Colorado linebacker Jeremiah Brown said. "We didn't show up. It's just as simple as it is. We didn't come to play. We had a great week of practice. We (were) physical all week in practice. And I guess we got complacent."

Deion Sanders also said it boiled down to coaching

Sanders was going up against Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, now in his 21stseason in charge of the Utes.

"He kicked my butt today," Sanders said. "It was 1-on-1 with me and him, and he won by a significant margin."

Salter said what he saw from the Utah defense was "nowhere to be found" on the game film he studied before the game.

"I feel like today they schemed up this… pressure just for us, for this game," Salter said.

Now the Buffs need to regroup to play Arizona at home on Nov. 1.

"We just can't quit," Salter said.

Sanders' record in three seasons at Colorado is now 16-17, including 4-8 in 2023 and 9-4 in 2024 .

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado's Deion Sanders puzzled by loss at Utah, his worst loss ever

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See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

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See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

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

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

Deion Sanders through the years

See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coaching

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

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Deion Sanders had the same question: 'Why?'

Deion Sanders blamed himself

How bad was it for Colorado and Deion Sanders?

Deion Sanders also said it boiled down to coaching