The beginning of this year had been too tough on Deion Sanders. His kids, Shedeur and Shilo, left his nest to play for the NFL. Then, Coach Prime got diagnosed with bladder cancer and went through surgery to replace and reconstruct his bladder. Just when Deion thought that life would stop throwing him lemons, the Colorado Buffaloes lost their 2025 season opener against Georgia Tech. But Deion’s boys had hit the ‘REBOUND’ button with a victory against Delaware. This weekend, they prepare for the Houston Cougars. Along with the scoreboard, Deion has some more business with the face-off.  

Not to forget, Deion is carrying a big dilemma on his shoulders. But this face-off gives him a new purpose. The Houston Cougars face the Colorado Buffaloes for the first time in 54 years. Talking about the energy that Deion and his boys are going to encounter? Well, the Cougars picked up back-to-back wins over SFA and Rice for their first 2-0 start since 2018. Now, what makes Deion so desperate to secure a win against Houston that he puts the Buffaloes on high alert? 

On September 11, Brian Howell posted a clip of the Buffs’ pre-game press conference. During the interview, Deion shared, “But it’s going to be a good game and I can’t wait to get to Houston. It’s a tremendous recruiting ground for us, Texas, period. So, we love to go down there and play, and I pray that it’s a sellout.” While Deion lives in the present, he is thinking of the future.

Beyond the actual matchup, Houston is a major city with football tradition, energy, and a spotlight environment. For players and coaches, playing in a big market brings exposure. It will be an easy ice-breaking session for Deion to woo the top recruits. The state of Texas has been the breeding ground for the best high school football players. Deion’s use of the word “period” ends any debate on this. This season, Colorado has limited exposure to explore the Texas market. After all, the Houston Cougars face-off is the Buffs’ only game in Texas. And what better way to create a good image than a packed stadium? 

Deion thus prays for a sellout. Recruits who attend the game or watch on TV see the buzz surrounding the Buffs program. That spectacle can influence their decision-making. Coach Prime is more desperate now that he is nursing two fresh wounds from Texas recruits who refused to make Colorado their home, even though Colorado left no stone unturned to woo them. 

One is the 5-star offensive tackle from Mansfield, Texas, Felix Ojo. He participated in the Navy All-American Bowl earlier this year, making him a hot recruit. But he decided to dock his wagon at Texas Tech. Then there was another 4-star Texas target by Deion. That’s none other than the running back from Carthage, KJ Edwards. But he, too, refused to punch a Colorado ticket and committed to Texas A&M. However, along with focusing on the future, the present demands Deion’s attention. A big dilemma is brewing in Boulder.  

Deion Sanders’ big-money investments are not paying off 

The Buffs’ face-off against Delaware came with a big surprise entry. It was none other than Ryan Staub. For so long, we had witnessed the Julian “JuJu” Lewis craze to be filling into Shedeur’s shoes. Then Deion stirred the pot by bringing in Liberty Flames transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter. While the Julian vs Kaidon debate continued, the third-stringer Staub went away with the prize. On his first drive, he connected with DeKalon Taylor for a 21-yard touchdown that capped a 75-yard march. 

Later on, in the second half, he dropped a 71-yard bomb into the hands of Sincere Brown. But amidst this celebration, something kept on pricking the head coach. A fat $1.8 million investment. Coach Prime had rained $1.2 million on Lewis, while he had high hopes for his $592,000 Liberty Flames transfer Salter. But everything went for a toss. Neither of them could impress the Buffs fans during the Delaware game. So, the calls kept mounting.

RJ Young said, “Put Kaidon Salter on the bench. Tell Julian Lewis to take the redshirt. Ryan Staub is 5 of 8 for 157 yards with two TDs. That’s your guy. That’s THE guy, Colorado.” This was doubled down by someone who knows Deion’s program in and out. 

The former Colorado quarterback and now analyst, Joel Klatt, said, “There are some reports that Deion’s going to go with Staub moving forward… I anticipate that he will. And the reason is that it is clear he has forced the coach’s hand… You have to provide ample evidence to your coaching staff that you are the best option and you elevate the play of the players around you.” While Deion Sanders is busy planting Colorado’s flag in Texas to lure future stars, his toughest headache just landed on his plate: a quarterback dilemma.