Deion Sanders will just have to settle for a bowl game this year. But Colorado exceeded most people’s expectations this season. The Buffs came in as a close contender for the Big 12 Championship game. One week ago, they were a potential playoff threat. But what was it that propelled this success? Let’s hear it from one of Deion Sanders’ biggest critics. 

Paul Finebaum makes sure that he delivers his piece of mind. And as someone who’s been a harsh Colorado critic, his response is like a breath of fresh air. The 69-year-old analyst joined the Dan Patrick Show on YouTube on December 3 to give his feedback on Deion Sanders. He said, “He beat the house this year. And he partly beat them because he’s a good coach. He had two of the best players I’ve seen in college football in recent years. He also took advantage of the Big 12 that was really deluded. It was an okay league, but by no means what he had last year in the Pac-12. So he mastered it.”

Your actions sing your praises, and that’s what’s happening with Deion Sanders. As Finebaum added, “He didn’t get to the championship game. He won’t get to the playoffs, but he still did a remarkable job.” Colorado finished the season with a stellar 9-3 record, finishing first in the Big 12 with a 7-2 record. But they still didn’t qualify for the Big postseason games. How?

Before last Saturday’s game, Colorado was tied as one of the two Big 12 teams fighting for a championship spot. They may have won their final game against Oklahoma State in a spectacular fashion, but BYU’s victory over Houston ruined their path ahead. This means that Iowa State and Arizona State will face each other in the Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on December 7. While 2024 may have fallen short of what Deion Sanders wished to accomplish with his sons for the last time, it’s a season worth remembering. 

Deion Sanders is happy with Colorado’s season performance 

The biggest reason why Colorado’s 3-loss record feels quite successful is because of how they ended last season with 4-8. But this year is different. It’s the last time Deion Sanders will play college football with his sons, Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, as well as Travis Hunter, whom he also considers his son. By February, they’ll be embarking on their new careers in the NFL. But the Buffs HC has a reason to feel good.

In their regular season finale, Colorado made a statement game-stopper by giving a huge 52-0 blowout defeat to Oklahoma State. The Buffs outgained the Cowboys 471-147. Shedeur completed 34 of 41 passes for his second-best season record of 438 yards (445 yards against NDSU) and his most TD of the season with five. A proud Deion Sanders said after the game, “We’ve exceeded all expectations, and I’m really happy where we are… And I’m proud of our young men.” So what’s next for Colorado? They could play in three bowl games: the Alamo Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl, and the Holiday Bowl. Stay tuned to get more updates in the following weeks.