Deion Sanders arrived at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco with a Colorado roster that looks a whole lot different than the one that stumbled to a 3-9 finish last season, and he used his time on the main stage to put the focus on people, not just football.
Sanders was joined by Julian “Juju” Lewis, Danny Scudero, Zach Atkins, Ben Finneseth, Naeten Mitchell and Cree Thomas, a group that reflects both the new shape of the Buffaloes and the players expected to matter in 2026. Lewis headlines the group while the quarterback battle remains open, Scudero has been a regular presence in Well Off Media videos and has drawn strong praise from Coach Prime, and Cree Thomas, the Tennessee transfer, has also started to turn heads during the offseason.
Before getting into football, Sanders thanked Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, calling him the best dressed Commissioner in college football. He also took time to remember Dominique Ponder and said he hoped young players would hear his story and make better decisions.
"We will wear patches on our jerseys this season to honor Dominique Ponder, his legacy should encourage kids to make responsible choices"
Sanders also addressed the death of longtime Colorado Buffaloes reporter Adam Munsterteiger. Munsterteiger is survived by his wife Liz and their children, and Sanders recognized Liz from the stage as she was in attendance.
The Buffaloes are entering the season with almost all of the major names from the program now gone, but the message coming out of Boulder has been that this group believes it can be better than last year. Colorado brought three of the bigger names expected to contribute in 2026, and the overall picture is of a team trying to reset its identity while the quarterback competition continues.
Big 12 Media Days also came with a few other notable developments around the league. The conference announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy, with jersey patches and field logos set to feature the brand. The event theme was “Football meets Futbol,” and when Big 12 Commissioner Brendan Yormark was asked his first question about the Brendan Sorsby situation, he shut it down quickly: "Today is not the time."
Sanders was scheduled as the fifth head coach to speak on the main stage, with ASU’s Kenny Dillingham, BYU’s Kalani Sitake and Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire set to follow. ESPN sent a crew to Frisco, including Charles Davis, and the broadcast will air on ESPNU and ESPN2.
In Other News...
Coach Prime Just Got More Bulletin Board Fuel From The Big 12
The Big 12s preseason All-Big 12 team came and went without a single Colorado player on it, a notable slight for a program that spent the offseason building one of the leagues most talked-about transfer classes. For a Buffaloes team trying to turn momentum into results in Deion Sanders next act, the omission is the kind of thing that tends to linger in a locker room, even before the first snap is taken.
It also leaves Colorado with a little extra edge heading into the season, especially with wide receiver Danny Scudero left off the list despite the kind of production that usually forces voters to take notice. Whether it becomes a talking point or a rallying cry, the Buffs now have another reminder that respect in the Big 12 will have to be earned on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Just Made A Derrick White Move Buffs Fans Will Feel
Derrick White is back in Boulder in a different kind of role, one that keeps the former Colorado guard connected to the program while he continues his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. The move adds another familiar name around Tad Boyles staff and gives the Buffs a high-profile voice with deep roots in the program, something that can matter when a team is trying to reestablish its footing and remind people what Colorado basketball can still be.
Spencer Dinwiddie helped amplify the news by publicly backing White in a video shared by the program, a notable show of support from another former Buffalo. The endorsement adds to the sense that Colorado is leaning on its alumni network as it looks ahead to its next phase, and Whites presence raises the question of how much influence he can have as the Buffs try to navigate what comes next. [Read more 🡒]