Florida State’s loss to SMU on Monday night did more than drop the Seminoles to 1-1. It sent Deion Sanders’ name right back into the coaching rumor cycle, even though there are no credible reports that Florida State has reached out to the Colorado coach.
That kind of chatter is familiar territory for Sanders. Whenever a major job opens up or starts to wobble, his name gets attached to it, and he has already said that sort of speculation can spill into Colorado’s recruiting conversations.
For Florida State coach Mike Norvell, the pressure was already there before the 27-24 defeat. The loss only sharpened the questions around his future.
Florida State is coming off a 2-10 season in 2024 and a 5-7 year before that, a 7-17 run that included a 3-13 ACC mark. After Monday night, Norvell is 39-35 at Florida State.
The numbers around any possible change are steep. Norvell’s buyout is about $51 million during the 2026 season and would drop to around $45.6 million after the season. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has also reported that even an 8-4 finish might not automatically settle Norvell’s future if the losses are bad enough.
Norvell also went back to calling the offense himself this season, and he entered the year saying he expected the best year of his life. Two games in, the noise around the program is only getting louder.
Sanders’ Florida State ties are the reason his name keeps surfacing. He played for the Seminoles from 1985 through 1988 and became one of the most recognizable players in program history. That connection is enough to make Tallahassee a natural landing spot in the rumor mill whenever Florida State’s job security comes up.
But the line between rumor and reality matters, especially for Colorado. Sanders signed a five-year, $54 million extension with the Buffaloes that runs through 2029.
When Front Office Sports asked him in June about coaching rumors, Sanders said they “weren’t real at all.” He has also repeatedly said he's happy in Boulder.
That said, Colorado has already seen how outside speculation can bleed into recruiting. During the Texas A&M coaching speculation in November 2023, Sanders said rival programs were telling recruits he would not stay at Colorado.
“They think we’re going to be so successful that I am going to leave. So they understand what we possess and the potential we possess,” Sanders said then. “But that’s not true.”
Four-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. reopened his commitment to Colorado that same week, and told Rivals that uncertainty over whether “Prime will still be there” was part of why he wanted to keep his options open.
That’s the part Colorado has reason to watch now, especially with offensive line coach Gunnar White and the rest of the staff putting more emphasis on high school recruiting. Stability is part of that message whether it is said out loud or not.
For now, the facts are simple: Colorado is 1-0 and getting ready for Weber State, while Florida State heads into an open week before visiting Alabama on Sept 19. Until a credible report ties Sanders to Tallahassee, this is still speculation.
And Sanders has already made his position clear.
“I think certain people thought I wanted their jobs; I never wanted their job,” Sanders said in May. “I love Colorado, man. I love my kids that I have in that locker room, I love the staff, I love all of them.”
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Colorado Suddenly Faces A Very Different Test In Home Opener
Weber States trip to Colorado now comes with a different kind of uncertainty after starting quarterback Devin Brown was expected to miss the game with a dislocated right pinkie finger. Brown was injured in the season opener, and the Wildcats are likely to turn again to freshman Nate Dahle, who is in line to make his second straight start against a Buffaloes team that will have to adjust its preparation accordingly.
Eric Kjar said he had updates on Browns status and made clear he has confidence in Dahle to handle the assignment. For Colorado, the change only adds another layer to a home opener that was already drawing attention, since a young quarterback being asked to settle in on the road can alter the feel of a game before it even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado's Upset Win Just Brought Immediate Big 12 Recognition
Colorados upset win over Georgia Tech didnt just change the mood around the program, it quickly put the Buffaloes in the league spotlight. The Big 12 handed out three weekly football honors from the performance, with Lamont Lester Jr. earning Co-Defensive Player of the Week, Boo Carter taking Co-Special Teams Player of the Week and Colorados defensive line getting Defensive Line of the Week recognition.
For a team looking to prove it belongs in bigger conversations, the timing matters as much as the hardware. Individual awards are nice, but the real value is what they suggest about how Colorado won: disruptive play up front, impact moments on special teams and enough across-the-board execution to get the leagues attention right after a statement victory. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado May Have Found A New Pass Rush Problem For Opponents
Lamont Lester Jr. gave Colorado a much-needed jolt off the edge in its recent 14-13 win over Georgia Tech, turning in a three-sack performance that stood out in a game decided by the slimmest of margins. The Buffaloes have spent plenty of time looking for defensive answers under Deion Sanders, and Lesters emergence offered one in a hurry, especially from a player who came to Boulder with a background at Monmouth and quickly fit the tone the staff wants.
For Colorado, the bigger question now is whether this was a one-game burst or the start of a real pass-rush problem for opponents. Lester talked about the defense playing fast, smart and with relentless effort under Sanders and defensive coordinator Chris Marve, and that mindset will be tested again as teams start planning for him. If the Buffaloes can keep getting that kind of pressure off the edge, they may have found a new way to make life uncomfortable for opposing quarterbacks. [Read more 🡒]