Some Buffaloes fans believe Coach Prime has already changed the football culture in Boulder, Colo.
Say what you want about Coach Deion “Primetime” Sanders.
He’s brash.
He’s cocky.
He has struggled after Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter left Colorado for the NFL.
But only a hater would say that “Coach Prime” is not making a positive impact on his players as his Buffaloes football team has earned a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA).
Dantee Ramos of Yahoo Sports reported, “Under coach Deion Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes football team set a new GPA record. For the first time in the University of Colorado Boulder’s football history, the team’s cumulative grade point average exceeded 3.0, according to Director of Player Personnel James Chaney…
“The Coloradoan reported that in Coach Prime’s premier year with the Buffaloes, 2023, the team finished with a cumulative GPA of 2.932.
“According to College Football Network, he reprimanded his team in April after receiving a poor academic letter from a professor, mentioning not giving their best effort in class is the same as if they did nothing to help the team win on the field.
At the Big 12 media day in July, Sanders talked about the importance of educating his players, saying, “I’m judged on a different scale. My wins are totally different than your wins. Your wins—you’re just judging football.”
Coach Prime continued, “That’s why I have to start out and give you education and academics and so forth. I have to give you those things, so you understand there’s a greater scope. I can’t win nine games and our GPA suffers. Our GPA can’t be high, but we lose another eight games…My wins are different. We have to win in every area. That’s the way we’re judged, and I’m cool with that because we come a little different so the expectations is greater.”
Even some Colorado football fans are pleased with the gains made in the classroom.
On social media, a Buffaloes fan said, “That’s bigger than football—it’s a culture shift. Coach Prime and the team showing that excellence ain’t just on the field, but in the classroom too. First time ever? That’s history in the making. This is what real leadership looks like. Big respect to the Buffs!”
And the Buffs earned some respect on the football field too with their opening week road victory over Georgia Tech.
The come-from-behind nailbiter came down to the last play, when a blocked field goal secured the win for the Big 12 team.
That victory might set the tone for the 2026 season, after many sports media personalities have openly discussed whether Sanders is on the hot seat this season.
David Cobb of CBS Sports reported, “Deion Sanders’ fourth season started with a bang on Thursday night when Colorado escaped with a thrilling 14-13 win over Georgia Tech that was highlighted by a wild finishing sequence. Boo Carter blocked a game-winning 45-yard field goal attempt from Yellow Jackets kicker Aidan Birr on the game’s final play, sending a hush through a sellout crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
“Colorado scored a go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left when quarterback Julian Lewis hit tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard score. The connection between Lewis and Williams ended a nearly three-quarter scoring drought for the Buffaloes, who dominated Georgia Tech on the ground but struggled to convert that dominance into points.”
Coach Prime’s rollercoaster tenure at Colorado comes after a brief dominance of the SWAC, while coaching at Jackson State University.
Sanders initially said that coaching at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) was a calling, but then upset many HBCU fans by bolting for the money and prestige of a Power Four school.
Despite his brief tenure at Jackson State, Coach Prime did change the landscape for HBCU football programs as many HBCUs have since hired former NFL greats as their head coaches, bringing much-needed attention to those programs.
Coach Prime’s big plans for Jackson State, even got many HBCUs to think outside of the box when it comes to increasing the money generated by its athletic programs.
In an op-Ed for RegalMag.com publisher, and Southern University alum, Todd A. Smith wrote, “A rebirth is happening in the world of HBCU sports, and my home conference, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is at the forefront of that movement.
“Unfortunately, movements are not always easy.
“But who said a renaissance was all smooth sailing?
“When Deion Sanders became the head football coach at Jackson State University, bringing his son quarterback Shedeur Sanders and top high school recruit Travis Hunter with him, many other top athletes began looking at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) as possible destinations f0r their college careers.
“With that excitement that Sanders brought to the SWAC came more media attention and eyeballs as people wanted to see what the Hall of Famer could do on the sidelines, especially an HBCU sideline.
“Even after Sanders left for Colorado, HBCUs kept the momentum up by hiring high profile former NFL players as coaches like Michael Vick (Norfolk State University), DeSean Jackson (Delaware State University) and Marshall Faulk (Southern University).
“But the Southern Jaguars do not seem content at being steppingstones for the next generation of college coaches.
“The HBCU in Baton Rouge, La. has now begun contemplating selling the naming rights to their sports facilities as a means of pumping revenue into athletic programs that are constantly strapped for real cash because of a lack of lucrative television deals or wealthy alumni.
“Like all HBCUs, Southern might not have many wealthy graduates.
“But they do have some like attorney and board member Tony Clayton.
“The Southern graduate, who is known for his unwavering financial support of his alma mater wants to rename the famed A.W. Mumford Stadium on campus after a corporate sponsor willing to cut a big enough paycheck.”
Despite the early 2026 success, many sports commentators believe that Coach Prime must think outside of the box in the days of NIL to compete with the coffers of a Big 12 program like Texas Tech.
And this year will go a long way in determining how long Sanders will be competing as the head coach of the Buffaloes.
Regardless, he has already succeeded in being a great influence in the lives of the young men he coaches.
