Just a couple of seasons ago, head coach Deion Sanders had taken the Colorado football program to new heights. With his son Shadeur Sanders at quarterback and two-way star Travis Hunter, he led the Buffs to a 9-4 record in 2024. 

It was Colorado’s best finish since going 10-4 in 2016, and the first nine-win season since 2002. Three months after the season in March 2025, Sanders agreed to a new $54 million extension with the school. 

But since then, things have gone rapidly downhill in Boulder. Colorado finished 3-9 in 2025 after the departure of Sanders and Hunter, and the Buffs are 3-6 on the season in 2026. Sanders’ first season in Colorado saw a 4-8 finish, which would give the head coach three losing seasons with the Buffs if this season holds. 

Let’s take a look at the situation at Colorado and see whether or not the “PrimeTime” era could be coming to an end. 

MORE: Meet Deion Sanders’ entire family, including his sons and current girlfriend.

Will Colorado fire Deion Sanders?

Colorado started out the season 2-0 with wins over Georgia Tech on the road and Weber State. But since then, the Buffs have lost five out of their last six games. Colorado’s lone win against Kansas State, a 27-24 overtime victory on Oct. 31, came as K-State was playing their fourth-string quarterback due to injuries to starter Avery Johnson.

With the exception of the 27-24 loss to Utah, the Buffs have lost each of their six games by at least 10 points. With three games remaining against No. 14 Houston, at 5-4 Cincinnati and UCF, it wouldn’t be surprising if Colorado finishes 3-9 yet again. 

After Colorado’s 20-10 road loss to Arizona State, Coach Sanders told reporters to put the blame for the poor season squarely on him, not his team or players. 

“We’re just not getting it done. I’m just not getting it done,” Sanders said via ESPN. “Don’t say we. I’m sorry. Scratch that. I’m not getting it done all the way around. All the way around. Offensive and defensively, special teams — all the way around.”

It’s unclear at this time if Sanders will be fired during or after this season. But one thing working against him is the fact that the athletic director that hired Sanders, Rick George, retired in December of 2025. His replacement is Fernando Lovo. 

“We’re in a critical juncture right now in our enterprise,” Lovo told The Athletic this offseason of the program. “We need a successful and healthy football program for us to make sure that we’re continuing to put our best foot forward.”

Lovo added in the piece that he has “unequivocal support” of Sanders. But that was months ago, before Colorado’s 3-6 season began.  

“I’m not here for my job. I’m here for these young men,” Sanders added after the ASU loss. “I want these kids to graduate, to provoke change in their communities, in their lives and their families. I ain’t worried about me. I’m good. I’m not worried about me.”

Sanders has also failed to win games despite cycling through numerous coordinators and landing several transfer portal players. He has also consistently clashed with media members at press conferences, and had questionable rules put in place for media members wanting to cover Colorado’s fall camp practices.   

One thing that could potentially be working in Sanders favor in him remaining at Boulder is his buyout if the school were to fire him.

MORE: Looking back at when Auburn nearly hired Deion Sanders.

Deion Sanders buyout 

Deion Sanders’ buyout is reportedly $25.5 million, down slightly from the $26.1 million figure reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel earlier this season.  

That number is far smaller than some of the most expensive buyouts in college football history, such as Brian Kelly’s $54 million and James Franklin’s $49 million that was later offset due to him taking the Virginia Tech job. But it’s unclear if Colorado is even in a place to pay Sanders his full buyout, even if it wanted to move on from him this season. 

In 2027, the buyout drops to $17.25 million, which would make it a more manageable. But it’s unclear if Colorado would have a replacement candidate in mind for Sanders, or if the school would want to wait that long to hire a coach.

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Deion Sanders contract, salary

After his 9-4 season at Colorado, Sanders signed a new extension with the school in March 2025 that was worth $54 million and put him through the 2029 season. According to On3Sports, Sanders is the 14th highest-paid head coach in all of college football, making $10 million annually.  

Deion Sanders record 

Sanders has compiled a 19-27 overall record at Colorado. 

Wins and losses aside, Sanders has drastically increased the attendance at Colorado home games. The school averaged 53,180 fans in 2023, which was a program record. Colorado averaged 52,514 in 2024, and averaged 50,469 despite the 3-9 record.