Buffaloes Strive to Stay in Prime Time

(Image via Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

​By: Lucas Kochevar

*UPDATE*

A very interesting development to the story in Boulder as Deion Sanders and his medical team announced today that Sanders is recovering from bladder cancer. I noted it in the story below that Sanders has been absent, but now it's good news that he is coming back to the sidelines. For those that aren't fans of Sanders, you have to at least appreciate that he's drawing attention to an important issue like this. Let's see how it turns out this season for Sanders and co.

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There’s no doubt that Deion Sanders and Colorado have dominated the news cycle in college football over the past two years. It’s been an amount of coverage that rivals LeBron’s decision in 2011 and anything Tom Brady did while he was on the Patriots. A big part of that was the duo of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but now the Buffaloes are heading into uncharted territory. 

Sanders has stepped away from the team due to a health issue, which is something out of his control. It feels weird to speak on the team with him gone for the time being, but the team has to move forward no matter what. They have multiple questions they’ll have to answer over the course of the season. 

The biggest question always comes back to who is lining up behind center?

Colorado has two intriguing options with incoming transfer Kaidon Salter from Liberty and big-time recruit Juju Lewis from Carrollton, Ga. Salter has had some mixed results as he stood out in 2023, but struggled to find his footing in 2024, but he still has the dual threat capabilities. Lewis comes in as the young gun that holds a more traditional passer. He never totaled over 100 yards rushing throughout his time at Carrollton. Salter feels like the leader in the clubhouse but you never know until the fall.

The biggest test Sanders will face is navigating a space where he isn’t coaching his sons. It’s a big difference to coach a team when you don’t have your own flesh and blood on both sides that you can coach up a bit harder than you do other players. The whole ‘Prime Time’ stuff works when there’s production. If the Buffaloes turn into a trainwreck post-Shedeur and Hunter, ‘Prime Time’ could end early.