At Colorado’s 73rd annual fall sports media day, football head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders took the podium to share his team's expectations for 2026.
The Buffaloes are coming off their least-winning season in the Coach Prime era but are determined to rebound with a new group of players and two new coordinators. Only 20 days away from their Week 1 contest against Georgia Tech, momentum for the Buffs has been building in Boulder.
Entering his fourth season as head man, Sanders will measure success in a multitude of ways. The Buffs have to be focused in the classroom before they can accomplish anything on the gridiron. Even in the modern age of college athletics, academics are a priority.
“First of all, these kids graduating [is success],” Sanders said. “We don't have any guys tapping out at the end, which means leaving us with F's and flunked out and just quit because they're not going pro and they mad and they're upset, so they're not going to do their school work [is success].”
Secondly, where Sanders’ players end up after college matters to him. There are a variety of career paths and options he wants the young men to be able to take advantage of.
“Getting to the next level [is success]. What I mean by that is a 6-figure career after football, if football is not that destination,” Sanders said. “ And for the rest of the guys that are good enough to make it to the next level, they not only make it, but they last five to ten years. Enough time that they can really get it together in life.”
Off-field habits and behaviors are what construct a winning team; that is an area Colorado will have to improve in.
This fall, Coach Prime is prioritizing bringing awareness to the Buffs about making good decisions. Reflecting on the passing of Dom Ponder, who the team has been without since March, Sanders reminded the group of a brother they are without.
“ No incidents or accidents like we endured a year ago, not even a year ago, not even a year yet [will be success],” Sanders said. “God bless Dom [Ponder]’s parents…We don't want another incident like that.”
Each one of those pieces of success in Sanders' mind will ultimately add up to one thing that will characterize the Buffs season for them. Regardless of everything else that can happen off the field, one thing matters.
“ Then we want to win. We want to win profoundly.” Sanders said. “We have a pretty good football team.”
The clock is beginning to tick down closer to kickoff. With less than three weeks remaining, soon the Buffs will have the opportunity to prove themselves right, or go down a path they are trying to avoid.
Q& A with other responses Sanders gave:
On defensive back Boo Carter…
“When scouts come out, he's one of the first young men they ask about. Boo could be a pro this year for certainly. But he's a bona fide top five pick if it was another year. But this year, I feel like he would be a 1st-round pick when he puts it all on tape and does what he's capable of doing. I think he's the best athlete on the team.
He could do multiple things. If I wanted to put him on offense, I think he would shine there. But he has to focus on being dominant. That was our deal. Dominate the defensive game and then we'll see about that. But the kid, attitude-wise, mentality A plus; haven't had any problems with him whatsoever.”
On the importance of specials teams/fieldgoal execution…
“But the execution from the snap, the hold and the kick, [Damon Greaves is] gonna hold. So we got that,” Sanders said. “But the snap and the kick, don't underestimate that. That's very important. That wins and loses games, and those two gentlemen are new to being in game. So that's very vital.”
On defensive coordinator Chris Marve…
“Coach Marve is unbelievable, man. He's intense. You guys didn't see it coming, but we did. Y 'all panicked for a minute, not understanding that we had Marve on the staff because we knew something was going to go down.
He is not only a prepared gentleman, he's a gentleman that's wise. Demonstrative type of coach. He's not going to just sit back and tell you; he can show you how to do it as well. But he's always dotting his i's and crossing his t's. He hears me.”
On new coordinators' coaching ability…
“Not only experience, but understanding of the group of young men that we have; we're not just speaking to the football guy. We're speaking to the young man who may have just broken up with his girlfriend, that is mismanaging his money, who wants to be that guy, but don't understand the work ethic that comes along with being that guy.
They understand how to communicate with the young men that we have. We don't have a lot of problematic men. And when we start to have anyone problematic, they're going to see me, and we're going to have a tremendous relationship, and we're going to get this together or we're going to get them up out of here.”
On coaching in the modern era of college football…
“It's different, but you gotta be a little flexible with the times. You can't just be old school because sometimes you turn into an old fool. You really got to understand these young men and the climate of today's game, with the rules, with the recruiting, with the NIL and so forth.
I think we kind of knew from day one. You guys didn't understand the approach and attempts, but everybody's doing it now. And what we were doing it when we came from Jackson, we did it in Jackson.
So I'm praying that it ceases a bit. I would love them to stop the multiple transfers. I think that would really secure a lot and help a lot with the finances if you stop allowing people to transfer several times. One is sufficient, but if you had two, two is enough. That should be it.”
On the new five years to play five seasons rule…
“It affects recruiting. You gotta really think about this because you don't want to run guys off. You don't want to look at them and say, ‘I'm not going to pick you up next year,’ or whatever. And that's not right. But it's not right for them to jump in a portal either. So who's right and who's wrong?
You really have to think about that as the management of the years of the roster. So I have a roster in my office that I look at every day… It could hurt you in several ways if you don't face it correctly,” Sanders said.
Players Mentioned
Coaches Mentioned
