Key Takeaways
- Deion Sanders acknowledged Colorado’s struggles but dismissed concerns about his job security after a 20–10 loss to Arizona State dropped the Buffaloes to 3–6: “I’m not here for my job. I’m here for these young men.”
- Colorado would reportedly owe Sanders $25.5 million if it fires him before the end of 2026, with the buyout dropping to $17.25 million in 2027.
- Sanders still has $34 million in scheduled pay over his final three seasons, while USA Today estimates a buyout plus a replacement coach could cost Colorado $37.5 million to $39 million over that span.
Deion Sanders might be running out of wins at Colorado, but Coach Prime isn't running out of money. The Buffaloes could owe their head coach a staggering $25.5 million if they fire him before the end of 2026, turning an already disastrous season into a potentially expensive breakup.
According to USA Today, that figure is the price Colorado would pay to terminate Sanders' contract this year. The buyout drops to $17.25 million in 2027, but another problem remains: Sanders still has $34 million in scheduled compensation over the final three seasons of his deal.
The numbers are getting harder to ignore after Colorado's latest setback, a 20-10 loss to Arizona State on Saturday, Nov. 7. The defeat dropped the Buffaloes to 3-6, leaving them needing three consecutive victories just to qualify for a bowl game.
And Sanders isn't pretending everything is fine.
"The season don't look good. It don't look good. I'm not crazy, man. I can see, I can see clearly," Sanders told reporters after the loss. "I'm not happy with outcomes."
The frustration is understandable. Sanders signed a five-year, $54 million extension in March 2025 after leading Colorado to a 9-4 record the previous season. His reported $10 million salary for 2026 ranks 14th nationally among college football coaches.
Colorado, however, hasn't come close to matching that standing on the field.
The Buffaloes finished 3-9 in 2025 following the departures of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Another aggressive transfer-portal overhaul and coaching changes haven't delivered the turnaround Sanders needed.
National commentators were already questioning his future before the latest loss.
Paul Finebaum offered an equally ominous assessment.
"It is going to end either gracefully or spectacularly badly for Deion," Finebaum said.
But firing Sanders isn't as simple as deciding the experiment has run its course.
He's scheduled to earn $11 million in both 2027 and 2028, followed by $12 million in 2029. Paying the $25.5 million buyout would be $8.5 million less than those remaining salary obligations, although Colorado would still need to pay his replacement.
USA Today estimates that hiring another coach at $4 million to $4.5 million annually would bring the combined three-year expense to approximately $37.5 million to $39 million.
Sanders also faces a financial penalty if he leaves voluntarily. Taking another coaching job before Dec. 31 would reportedly cost him $10 million.
Despite the criticism surrounding his program, Sanders still has support from former players. Hunter recently credited Coach Prime with changing his life during an appearance on Chasing No 1.
"He really changed my life for real," Hunter said, explaining why he chose Sanders over Florida State.
But when reporters asked Sanders about his job security following the Arizona State loss, he dismissed the concern.
"I'm not here for my job. I'm here for these young men," he said.
