Deion Sanders’ latest run at Colorado now sits in some uncomfortable company.
After Saturday’s 57-24 loss at Oklahoma State, Sanders has gone 5-15 over his last 20 games - the exact same mark Karl Dorrell posted in his final 20 games with the Buffaloes, according to a comparison shared by On3 reporter Brian Howell. Both stretches also included four losses by at least 30 points.
Colorado’s defeat in Stillwater pushed Sanders to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12 in his fourth season. The Buffaloes have won just one Big 12 game since the start of the 2025 season, and their current skid has reached five straight losses.
The game itself slipped away fast after halftime. Colorado held a 24-23 lead at the break, then watched Oklahoma State explode for 37 unanswered points in the second half. The Cowboys piled up 598 total yards, and Sanders did not hide from the breakdown afterward.
“But coming out and fumbling in the second half, as a team, I don’t feel like we ever recovered,” Sanders said afterward.
That latest 33-point defeat was the fourth time Sanders has lost by 30 or more during this 20-game stretch. That’s the same number Dorrell matched in the final chapter of his Colorado tenure.
Dorrell’s ending came in his third season, when Colorado fired him after an 0-5 start in 2022. His final 20-game stretch started with his fourth win of the season, and from there the Buffaloes went 4-15.
His path at Colorado had begun much differently. The school hired Dorrell on Feb. 23, 2020, after Mel Tucker left for Michigan State.
Dorrell became the program’s 27th full-time head coach, returning to a place where he had previously worked under Bill McCartney and Rick Neuheisel. His five-year deal was worth $18 million.
He opened the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with four straight wins, including a 48-42 victory over UCLA in his debut. Colorado finished 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-12 that year, then lost 55-23 to Texas in the Alamo Bowl. Dorrell was named conference coach of the year.
The momentum didn’t last. Colorado went 4-8 in 2021 and 2-7 in conference play, with major roster losses including cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who transferred to Oregon, and receiver Brenden Rice, who went to USC.
Then came the rough start to 2022. After five straight losses, the school dismissed Dorrell on Oct. 2, one day after a 43-20 loss at Arizona. He finished with an 8-15 record and a 5-10 conference mark, and tight ends coach Mike Sanford Jr. took over as interim head coach.
Sanders’ 20-game sample also includes the 2024 team that went 9-4 and reached a bowl game in his second season. But the current picture is much different, and the criticism around him has only grown this week. Colorado heads home next to face Kansas State on Saturday, with Sanders still in charge.
In Other News...
Colorados First Big 12 Win May Hinge On One Kansas State Decision
Kansas States quarterback situation could end up shaping Colorados best chance at a first Big 12 win. Avery Johnson has been the Wildcats engine on both sides of the ball in the sense that he leads the team in passing and rushing, and Colorados defense knows the assignment is as much about containment as anything else. The Buffaloes want to keep him in the pocket and make the game about structure, not improv, because when Johnson is moving freely, Kansas States offense tends to travel with him.
The uncertainty only deepens because Kansas State already has other quarterback injury issues, leaving the Wildcats to sort out how much they can ask of Johnson even if hes available. He missed last weeks game against Arizona State, and his status for this matchup remains unclear, which matters a lot for a Colorado team still looking for that first Big 12 breakthrough. If he does suit up, the questions shift from whether he can go to how aggressive Kansas State will let him be, and that may be the biggest variable of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has The Edge But Colorado Still Brings One Real Threat
Colorado heads into its Oct. 31 matchup with Kansas State carrying a five-game losing streak and the lowest Football Power Index rating in the Big 12, which is hardly the kind of backdrop any team wants this late in the season. The gap in the numbers is real, too, with Kansas State sitting in a much stronger position in the league pecking order and with a clearer path toward bowl eligibility as the schedule winds down.
Still, Colorado does have one area that can keep the game interesting if it can find a way to lean into it. The Wildcats have the more complete profile, but the Buffaloes will be looking for any edge they can create against a Kansas State attack that runs through quarterback Avery Johnson and a backfield featuring Rodney Fields and Joe Jackson. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Just Got A More Affordable Path Into Folsom Field
Colorados next Big 12 home date brings Kansas State to Folsom Field, and the matchup is drawing a range of ticket options for fans trying to get in the building. Official prices start at $88, while several secondary-market listings are showing seats at different points around the stadium depending on location and seller, giving buyers a few ways to approach the game.
For fans looking for more than a standard seat, there are also premium game-day experiences available at higher prices, including add-ons tied to the south end zone and sideline access. As always with live-event tickets, the final checkout total can vary more than the initial listing suggests, so it pays to compare platforms before committing. [Read more 🡒]