Deion Sanders finally has the kind of win that changes the conversation, at least for a little while.
Colorado stunned No. 14 Houston 42-32 on Friday night, landing its biggest victory in nearly 20 years and knocking the Cougars out of the picture for a College Football Playoff berth. It was the Buffaloes’ first win over a top-15 team since 2007, and it pushed Colorado to 4-6, ensuring the program will finish better than last year’s 3-9 mark.
For Sanders, now in his fourth year in Boulder, the result mattered far beyond the standings. The noise around his future has been building for two seasons, and last year’s collapse from 9-4 to 3-9 only turned up the volume.
With Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders gone, Colorado has spent much of this season trying to prove it can still stand on its own. Until Friday, that proof had not arrived.
Sanders has kept saying the work behind the scenes was pointing in the right direction. He has insisted his team was doing things the right way in practice and away from the field. But the only thing that really quiets the talk is a result like this one, and Colorado finally delivered one against a quality opponent.
The Buffaloes had flashed at times, including a 27-24 home loss to Utah, which is now No. 2 in the country. But close calls only go so far when the losses keep piling up. Fans wanted something concrete, not another nearly-there performance.
This one gives Sanders something he has badly needed: a real proof point. It also gives Colorado a much easier case to make heading into Year 5, even if the financial realities have made a coaching change difficult all along.
Sanders received a massive extension after the 9-4 season in 2024, and if Colorado were to fire him after the 2026 season, he would be owed $25.5 million. That kind of number makes the decision complicated for any program, and it has left the Buffaloes in a position where Sanders would likely have to choose to leave on his own.
He has made it clear he believes he’s the right man for the job and that a turnaround is still possible. On Friday night, for the first time in a while, he had a result that looked like progress instead of just a promise.
In Other News...
Colorados Bowl Hopes Face A Brutal Test Against No. 14 Houston
The path to a bowl game for Colorado got a lot steeper after the loss to Arizona State, leaving the Buffaloes needing to win their final three games just to reach eligibility. Next up is a daunting trip against No. 14 Houston, a team that has built its reputation on a high-powered offense and a quarterback in Conner Weigman who can make life difficult for any defense.
Colorado will need more from Joseph Williams and the rest of its offense to keep pace, while the pass rush has to find a way to disrupt Weigman and slow Houston's rhythm. The Buffaloes are expected to enter as underdogs, which only adds to the pressure as they try to keep their season from slipping away before the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Tougher Providence Test Than Last Weeks Results Suggest
Providences latest win over Bryant offered a reminder that the Friars are still sorting out their early-season shape, even as Devin Vanterpool led the way with 21 points and looked like the kind of scorer who can change a game quickly. With Vanterpool working back from an ankle injury, coach Bryan Hodgson said his condition is trending in the right direction, and Providence is also expecting Ryan Mela and Samson Aletan back for the matchup with Colorado.
That makes this a far different test than Colorados recent home win over San Diego might suggest. The Buffaloes got enough production from Barrington Hargress and Ian Inman in that one, but Providence brings a deeper, more complete challenge and a lineup that could look stronger by the time the teams meet. For Colorado, the question is whether that recent success carries over once the opponents full front line and backcourt are back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Nate Tomlinson Returns To A Place That Could Test The Buffs
Nate Tomlinson is headed back to Providence in a familiar role, only this time he will be on the Colorado sideline when the Buffaloes face the Friars. The assistant coach spent time on the Providence staff before joining CU, and the trip adds a personal layer to a nonconference matchup that already carries some intrigue for a Colorado program looking to keep building under its current staff.
The game also brings Tomlinson back into a basketball circle that includes former CU assistant Kim English, now leading Providence, which gives the meeting a little extra texture beyond the usual early-season test. Colorado enters with a recent season that has left plenty to clean up, and this trip offers another chance to measure where the Buffs stand against a Big East opponent with its own coaching pedigree and expectations. [Read more 🡒]