The Colorado Buffaloes, led by Coach Deion Sanders, have stumbled out of the gate this football season. They’re sitting at a 2-3 record, and as they gear up for a matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs, people are wondering: are NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals messing with the team’s focus?
Coach Sanders has been pretty vocal about his thoughts on NIL, and he’s not shy about sharing them. He insists their problems aren’t about money—it’s about what happens on the field.
So, let’s dig into what Sanders really thinks about NIL, how the Buffaloes have looked so far, and what might be coming up next for this team.
Deion Sanders’ Stance on NIL in College Football
Sanders doesn’t love the way NIL has exploded in college football. He’d like to see a cap, something more like the NFL’s approach.
At Big 12 media day, he talked about wanting more fairness in NIL deals. In his view, a level playing field would help everyone.
But when it comes to Colorado’s rocky record, Sanders doesn’t see NIL as the culprit.
Coach Prime’s Perspective
Sanders has pointed out that, aside from a rough loss to Houston, the Buffaloes have actually played well in most games. They had chances to beat ranked teams like Georgia Tech and BYU but just couldn’t finish the job.
For him, it’s execution, not money, that’s holding the team back.
Analyzing Colorado’s Performance
That 2-3 record? It’s a mixed bag—some close calls and one ugly loss. The worst was week 3 against Houston, where they fell by 16 points.
The other two losses? Both were tight, with Colorado within a single score of Georgia Tech and BYU. You look at those games, and it’s clear: this team can hang with tough opponents, but they just can’t seem to close.
Key Areas for Improvement
So, what’s going wrong? A few things stand out:
- Defensive Penalties: Too many mistakes on defense, giving away fresh downs and making life harder than it needs to be.
- Time Management: The clock’s been a problem. They’ve run out of time on final drives when the game was still winnable.
Even with these issues, the Buffaloes have kept games close. If they clean things up, who knows? Maybe the season turns around.
Upcoming Challenges for the Buffaloes
The road ahead isn’t getting any easier. More ranked teams are on the schedule, and next up is TCU. That’s going to be a real test of whether this group can step up when it counts.
They’ve shown they can hang in there until the last whistle. But can they finally finish?
Potential for Upsets
Honestly, there’s enough talent here to pull off a few surprises. Staying competitive with ranked teams isn’t nothing—it shows they’ve got something brewing.
The real question is whether they can execute when it matters most.
Coach Sanders’ Message to the Team
After some tough losses, Sanders hasn’t sugarcoated things. He’s told his team straight up: it’s not about money, it’s about playing better football.
He believes that when the dust settles, the best teams will have more in common than just big budgets. Coaching can make up for a lot, if not everything.
Focus on Execution
Sanders keeps hammering home the same message—better execution, fewer penalties, smarter clock management. Take your chances when they come.
If they can do that, maybe Colorado’s season ends up looking a whole lot different than it does right now.
Conclusion
The Colorado Buffaloes have had a tough start to their season. Coach Deion Sanders, though, doesn’t think NIL money is the problem here.
He points instead to issues like execution and time management. There’s a tough schedule ahead, but you never know—maybe they’ll pull off some surprises if things click.
Want more of Coach Sanders’ thoughts? Check out the full article over at Sports Illustrated.
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