After a tough loss against Houston, Deion Sanders’s team dropped to a 1-2 record and needed a massive turnaround. And their 37-20 win against the Cowboys gave them a perfect push in the game. Well, after weeks of inconsistent runs and trying out three different QBs, Kaidon Salter proved his dominance once again in the game, showing his two-way skills by scoring three TDs and a game-stealing rushing score. But that win didn’t just turn the Buffs’ fate in the league but also made a historic record after 17 years.

It’s evident that Deion Sanders grabs national attention and attracts many viewers on and off the field. And their Week 7 game against Kansas State last year proved it pretty well. This game attracted 3.3 million viewers on ESPN despite a late kickoff at 10:15 pm. That’s the power of Coach Prime’s aura. This time he went on to secure another milestone, and that’s getting 53,442 people on Folsom Field, their highest number of audience in 17 long years.

So, Deion Sanders shows not only his on-field dominance but also his off-field influence. The game kicked off in front of thousands of people, going wild over a sprint from a real-life buffalo, and even Coach Prime couldn’t help but praise their mascot event, though he couldn’t watch it. “Ralphie did a wonderful job, doing the doggone thing that she did,” Sanders said. “And I heard they brought her out for the second half. So, I love it. I wish I could get a chance just to watch. I don’t; I’m too locked in. I’m ready to go.”

But getting large crowds on game day isn’t new for Colorado. In 2005, when they were playing against their in-state rival Colorado State, the audience count reached 54,972. Even in May 1997, during the Buffs Sun Day rock concert, they got almost 61,500 fans into Folsom Field, exceeding their seating capacity by 9,000. Despite all of it, Deion Sanders’s dominance is evident, as last year, while playing against Utah, there were 54,646 players in the stadium.

And no wonder the team didn’t disappoint their fans. As Colorado recorded nearly 500 total yards on offense and also racked up 497 rushing yards. But the star of the night was Kaidon Salter, who completed three of his first four attempts for 304 yards, finishing the night with 86 rushing yards. “Every chance that I got today, I tried to take advantage of the opportunity,” Salter said after the win. “And I know that I got big guys out there, big playmakers, and if I throw it up, it’s 75/25 their way.” After a rocky start, this was a perfect comeback for Salter.

And this loss even proved how well Deion Sanders is holding up the program. After their loss against Houston, there were many hot seat talks about Colorado’s inconsistent run, especially after losing Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. However, this attendance record is a clear sign of his influence, proving how CU benefits way more than people expect.

But Sanders contribution doesn’t stop at that.

Deion Sanders’s move to secure Buffs future

Since taking the reins at Colorado, Deion Sanders has been turning their fate. It’s putting them into the national spotlight or drawing a major crowd on game day that does wonders for the local vendors and hotels. But no one knows the exact number Boulder generated in the past few years. Because of Coach Prime’s presence, they have generated an estimated $207 million, that’s boosted tourism, sales and media presence in Boulder. Even when the team is at 2-2 this season, Sanders’s impact keeps the money flowing.

But now with off-field success, their real test comes against BYU next week, and it won’t be an easy matchup for them. Despite coming off strong against Wyoming, recording two sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven pass deflections, their critical red zone stops, turnovers, and penalties are a significant concern because going up against BYU’s offense won’t be that straightforward.

Their QB, Bear Bachmeier, is already making defenses sweat with his 518 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions record in the league. Then their receiver room is also pretty electrifying with Chase Roberts and tight end Carson Ryan. As their OL has already recorded 7 sacks this season, Colorado must protect Salter if they want to come strong against them.

Deion Sanders’ team enters as 6.5-point underdogs in the game, but if they fix their key mistakes, they might turn the game in their favor.