Deion Sanders is facing mounting questions about the direction of his Colorado Buffaloes program after another painful defeat exposed the team's inability to maintain its performance for four quarters.
Colorado suffered a 57-24 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, October 24, despite taking a 24-23 advantage into halftime.
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The Buffaloes were completely outplayed after the break, surrendering 34 unanswered points as their losing streak reached five games.
The result left Colorado with a 2-5 overall record and a 0-4 mark in Big 12 play. After beginning the campaign with victories over Georgia Tech and Weber State, the Buffaloes have now lost every game since September 12, with defeats against Northwestern, Baylor, Texas Tech, Utah and Oklahoma State.
For Sanders, the problem goes beyond the final score. The former NFL star has become increasingly frustrated with his players' inability to translate their preparation into consistent performances on the field, and his latest comments suggest he believes the team's mentality needs to change.
“They got to want it for this university, and they got to want it for themselves,” Sanders said during his postgame press conference, according to Buffs TV.
“I’m so old school. Sometimes it really bothers me. And it really affects me because I love the game of football. I love what it stands for, what it teaches, the life lessons and in and all. And we’re compensating people to play this game. So why not give it everything you’ve got? Because it’s almost like a career. It’s a job.”
His remarks reflect a coach struggling to understand why the team's performances have deteriorated so dramatically despite what he considers adequate preparation during the week.
Sanders has also spoken about wanting Colorado to focus on developing players as college athletes and people, rather than allowing the pursuit of professional football careers to become the overriding priority.
“And I don’t think that’s asking too much,” Sanders said. “I really don’t think that’s asking too much. I really don’t whatsoever.”
The comments came after a second-half collapse that raised questions about Colorado's discipline, execution and ability to respond when momentum shifts against it.
Reporters turn up the pressure as Colorado's season unravels
The latest defeat has intensified criticism from sports commentators in Colorado, with some questioning whether Sanders remains the right person to lead the program through its current difficulties.
Digital Sports Analyst for Denver Sports 104.3, Will Petersen, was among those expressing frustration on social media.
“About a year ago I said the Buffs should fire Deion Sanders and a lot of people freaked out,” Petersen wrote on X.
“It’s only gotten worse. Not only is CU a dumpster fire, they have become more embarrassing. The boosters need to find every penny possible & make up for Rick George’s horrendous mistake”.
Jake Shapiro, another Denver Sports 104.3 analyst, was similarly blunt in his assessment of the head coach.
“Pack your bags, Deion Sanders, it’s time you get out of Boulder, Colorado,” Shapiro wrote on X. “Thanks for trying! Calling you “Coach Prime” is an insult to real college coaches. Time for the Buffs to find somebody committed to the program and not desperately chase a brand. “
Those comments represent the growing frustration surrounding the team, although criticism from individual commentators does not establish that Colorado's leadership has decided to make a coaching change.
The scale of the Oklahoma State defeat helps explain the intensity of the reaction. Colorado looked competitive before halftime, but the game unravelled almost immediately after the restart.
The Cowboys forced three turnovers and produced additional three-and-outs, while Colorado struggled to generate points or stop its opponents.
Sanders acknowledged that the team had failed to maintain its standards when the pressure increased. He also admitted that the disconnect between practice and game day was difficult to explain.
“We're so disciplined in this and that, and this and that, and every darn thing we do, but it seems like as soon as we go in the field, we're not disciplined,” Sanders said after the defeat, according to USA Today.
Colorado's struggles have also placed its quarterback situation under scrutiny. Isaac Wilson started against Oklahoma State, but a second-half fumble helped trigger the collapse.
The Buffaloes' offensive problems have extended beyond one position, however, with turnovers, penalties and an inability to sustain drives contributing to the team's recent defeats.
The broader challenge is rebuilding consistency in a roster that has undergone significant changes in recent seasons.
Colorado has used the transfer portal to bring in experienced players, but assembling a competitive team requires more than recruiting individual talent. Players must also execute together, respond to adversity and maintain their level throughout an entire game.
That is the standard Sanders is demanding, even as the results continue to fall short.
The immediate opportunity to respond arrives on October 31, when Kansas State visits Boulder. The Buffaloes must win four of their remaining five regular-season games to reach the six victories normally required for bowl eligibility.
Sanders now faces a difficult balancing act: correcting his team's mistakes while preventing the losing streak from damaging confidence further.
His criticism has made clear that he expects more commitment from his players, but Colorado will ultimately need to demonstrate that commitment through better performances on the field.
Against Kansas State, the Buffaloes will have their next chance to show whether the message has reached the locker room.