After a bye week that followed a shocking upset of No. 22 Iowa State, Colorado and Deion Sanders were riding high. But Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the Buffaloes’ first-half performance against Utah looked more like a cautionary tale. Momentum is wiped out with a 3-5 record. Fans were left squinting at the scoreboard, wondering if this was Coach Prime’s turning point or his breaking point.

The conversation around Deion Sanders’ future isn’t just about wins and losses. In an October 26 episode on The Audible, national insiders discussed the potential fate of Deion Sanders. Stewart Mandel bluntly noted, “Colorado guys 3-5 overall, 1-4 in the Big 12… This team is worse than Deion’s first team that went 4-8… Deion’s having health issues like what do we think happens from here?” Bruce Feldman added fuel to the fire, hinting that AD Rick George might retire sooner than expected, a development that could remove the foundation of Deion Sanders’ Boulder success.

Boulder has been Deion Sanders’ sanctuary, where Rick George’s support allowed him to coach with freedom, but that safety net may not last much longer. “There’s also been some talk inside college athletics that maybe Rick George, the AD, he may retire sooner than later,” Bruce Feldman said. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen imminently, but that’s been a great partnership in Boulder.” Brian Howell reported last December that “Colorado AD Rick George has said he doesn’t plan to work past his current contract, which expires June 30, 2026.”

As Kevin Borba of Locked On Buffs noted, “I don’t think there’s going to be a job out there that gives him the systematic support from the top down, like Rick George; he is very supportive of him, and lets him do whatever he wants, pretty much.” But the AD isn’t the only reason. 

Off the field, Deion Sanders has been fighting battles most fans didn’t know existed. This offseason, he revealed he had bladder cancer, undisclosed until a press conference in July. He’d drafted a will during recovery, facing a life-threatening diagnosis head-on. Add prior health issues like blood clots, toe amputations and it’s clear that this isn’t just a story about football. On top of that, the result on the field isn’t exactly a motivating factor for him to want to keep coaching in Boulder. 

Deion Sanders gets the worst beating from Utah 

Saturday night’s 53-7 loss to Utah was a demolition. The worst since Deion Sanders arrived, the largest margin in the 72-year “Rumble in the Rockies” rivalry. Utah racked up 422 rushing yards while Colorado managed 140 total. “This is bad. This is probably the worst beating I’ve ever had except when my momma whooped me as a kid,” he admitted, trying to mask frustration with humor.

Deion Sanders owns the evaluation, admitting he was outcoached by Kyle Whittingham. “He kicked my butt today,” he said postgame. “It was one-on-one with me and him, and he won by a significant margin.” Colorado now faces a tough road. Win three of four to become bowl-eligible. Coach Prime, ever the competitor, knows the clock is ticking. “We gotta figure this out, like now,” he said. 

The Utah blowout stings, but Deion Sanders’ future isn’t defined by losses. It’s Rick George’s potential retirement, his own health, and the freedom Boulder offers. Without that foundation, even Coach Prime may have to reconsider staying in Colorado.