Deion Sanders is under fire again, this time for the way Colorado handled media access to a preseason practice.
The Buffaloes opened Tuesday’s practice at Franklin Field to the public and reporters, but the invitation came with a heavy stack of restrictions that left many in the media stunned. Sanders and Colorado told attendees they could watch, but not document, report, or share anything they saw.
According to an Aug. 10 email from the Colorado athletic department, as reported by USA Today, the practice was “open for viewing purposes only” and “closed for all reporting, recording and documentation purposes.” The message went even further: “Nothing observed at practice may be reported, published, posted, broadcast or otherwise shared in any form, on any platform, at any time.”
The list of banned items was broad. Cell phones, tablets, cameras, video equipment, audio recorders, smart glasses and any other recording-capable devices were prohibited, with phones collected and bagged at the gate before being returned afterward. Even basic note-taking was off limits.
“No note-taking of any kind - written, typed, dictated or otherwise,” the email stated, per USA Today. “No photography, videography, audio recording, sketching or diagramming. No live coverage, live posting or real-time updates of any kind.”
Colorado also drew a hard line on what could be discussed afterward. Media members were told there could be “no reporting” on injuries, personnel groupings, formations, play calls, trick plays, individual player performances or, essentially, “personnel information of any kind.”
“If you are uncertain whether something is reportable, the answer is that it is not,” the school’s email said, per USA Today. “When in doubt, contact the Athletic Communications Office before publishing anything connected to this practice.”
The restrictions came with teeth, too. Colorado Athletics said violations could lead to removal from the facility, revocation of credentials and future access being limited for both the individual and the outlet.
“Violations of these guidelines may result in removal from the facility, revocation of credentials and restriction of future access for the individual and the outlet, consistent with CU Athletics media policies,” the email said, per USA Today.
The reaction from reporters was immediate and sharp, with many questioning why the team invited the media in at all if nothing could be reported.
“Just close practice. Period.”
“And I feel like I don’t need to point out that the reasons Colorado football is struggling has nothing to do with the media covering it.”
“The CIA is now running Colorado football security.”
“Why would you even go to practice? Just close it at that point instead of insulting everybody involved.”
Sanders is entering Year 4 at Colorado and is looking to rebound from a 3-9 season in 2025, the worst record of his Buffaloes tenure so far. He’s hoping a 2026 team led by quarterback Julian Lewis can climb back toward the level Colorado reached during the Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter era.
But his latest move around media access has put the spotlight squarely back on “Coach Prime” and the way he runs his program.
In Other News...
Colorado Fall Camp Is Revealing A Battle That Will Shape The Opener
Two weeks into fall camp, Deion Sanders Colorado roster is starting to sort itself out, even if the coaching staff still hasnt handed out an official depth chart. The Buffaloes have been working through a number of open spots, and a few names have already begun to separate from the pack as potential starters or important pieces once the season opens.
Among the players drawing the most attention are defensive back Makari Vickers, tight end Zach Atkins and wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. Vickers has looked poised to factor heavily into the secondary, while Atkins and Moore have each put themselves in position to matter on offense. The competition is still ongoing, but the next few weeks should tell Colorado a lot about which of these camp standouts turn early momentum into real roles. [Read more 🡒]
Shedeur Sanders Is Facing A Colorado First In Cleveland
Shedeur Sanders is dealing with something he never had to navigate at Colorado, where he was the clear starter and the job description was far simpler. In Cleveland, the picture is much more fluid, with Sanders competing for playing time alongside Deshaun Watson and adjusting to a training camp rhythm that has made every snap feel more valuable than the last.
Sanders has talked about staying focused on personal improvement and keeping the room united, even as the quarterback rotation keeps shifting around him. He also addressed his previous media interaction and backed Browns coach Todd Monken on how the reps have been managed, a reminder that this is still a learning phase for a rookie trying to find his footing in a very different kind of quarterback battle. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Sets The Tone For A Crucial Colorado Season
Deion Sanders used his media day session ahead of the 2026 season to set the tone for a Colorado team that is again trying to turn a page. The Buffaloes are coming off a 3-9 finish, and after three years on the job Sanders sits 16-21 overall, a reminder of how much work still remains as he reshapes the roster, the staff and the standard inside the building.
There are new coordinators in place, plenty of fresh faces around the program and no shortage of uncertainty about how quickly it all comes together. Even the oddsmakers are treating Colorado cautiously with a 4.5 win total, which makes the next stretch especially important for Sanders and a team that needs traction early if it wants to change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]