DEION SANDERS. Well, the name is enough to ward off all the worries of Colorado Buffaloes fans. After all, since Deion took up the reins in Boulder, he had filled the program with positive juju. Even after a year of stepping into Colorado, he has not lost his charm, not even a little! The 2024 season did bring some good memories. However, making it to the playoffs would have been the icing on the cake. Sadly, that didn’t happen. But so what? We have some new record-breaking numbers.

Thanks to Deion and his Coach Prime effect. The Buffs fans no longer prefer watching the games in their drawing room. Instead, they’re flocking to the stadium, boosting ticket sales to a whopping $38.4 million. WOAH!

The effects of Deion Sanders’ magic

Okay, so we all must be aware of the 4-8 narrative in Deion’s debut season in Boulder in 2023, right? The 2024 campaign saw Colorado take a quantum leap. The Buffs finished the season 9-4 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12. Plus, back in 2023, Shedeur Sanders came out as the most sacked player in the history of college football. The quarterback had to carry the burden of the number 52.

However, he managed to whitewash his image by ending the 2024 season with a completion rate of 74% of his pass attempts for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. From this, you can see how the graph rose, right? So, this transformation had to have a side effect and obviously a grand one.

On January 27, the Boardroom came up with a post on the IG. The caption read, “The Colorado Buffaloes raked in a whopping $38.4 million in ticket sales during the 2023-24 season—Deion Sanders’ first year as head coach. That’s nearly three times what they made the year before.⁠” Now this was the first full season under Sanders, who was hired in December 2022 to replace the fired Karl Dorrell. 

CU reported a year-over-year increase in its football-related operating expenses from $35 million in FY23 to $38.5 million in 2024. In the 2022-23 season, it was $13.02 million. Thanks to the Coach Prime effect. So, for the ones who had a problem with Deion receiving a $250,000 bonus, they must have their answers now.

Not just in ticket sales, the Coach Prime effect did heavy Colorado’s pockets in other ways as well.  Back in July, the Buffs insider Kevin Borba shared, “He[Deion] gained the university over $340 million in media value. They have it at $87 million before he was there.” So, the Buffs fam might have gone into panic mode now that the NFL is trying to lure Deion away.   

Will there be a new NFL suitor for Deion Sanders? 

On January 8, Dallas Cowboys former HC Mike McCarthy’s contract expired. GM Jerry Jones refused to renew it. And as soon as it was confirmed that the Cowboys were looking for a new HC, how could Deion’s name not be expected in the rumors? As the FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported, “Sources: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Colorado HC Deion Sanders about the team’s head coaching vacancy. Coach Prime is considered a top candidate, though the Cowboys plan to interview other candidates as part of the process, per team sources.”

However, the Buffs fans can finally let out a sigh of relief. The Cowboys’ Deion plan is not going to work anymore. Michael Irvin blasted Jones for picking Brian Schottenheimer as their head coach: “Here’s my issue. We lost an opportunity here. I don’t know what will happen with Coach Schottenheimer… but Jerry [Jones] is a shrewd, shrewd businessman. And this opportunity, I’m shocked he did not see. I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next head coach.” However, the Colorado fans must be thanking the GM secretly. 

Now is it the Tennessee Titans? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which conveniently aligns with Deion’s one condition for an NFL gig: “You know what? The only way I would consider it is to coach my sons.” And with Shedeur Sanders looking like a top QB prospect, the Titans could make that happen.

But is Deion ready to leave his Colorado gold rush behind? The Titans are sticking with Brian Callahan as head coach after their rough 3-14 season (though changes are definitely needed). Shedeur to Tennessee seems plausible, but Shilo? Not so much. Right now, Deion looks pretty settled in Boulder. Between the fat paycheck and the top recruits lining up, he’s got it good.