Deion Sanders has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. But in Boulder, the glare is getting hotter-and not just because of the Buffaloes' struggles on the field. As the program wrestles with a tough season and mounting criticism, questions are starting to surface about what’s happening behind the scenes at Colorado.
In a recent video, college football analyst Kevin Borba laid out a series of concerns that point to potential internal friction within the program. And while Borba stopped short of calling anyone in Sanders’ camp a “bad apple,” he made it clear: alignment within the inner circle is critical if Colorado wants to get back on track.
One name that came up was Warren Sapp, the Hall of Famer who joined Colorado’s staff earlier this year. According to Borba, Sapp’s recent social media activity has raised eyebrows. While the transfer portal is wide open and rosters across the country are being reshaped, Sapp has been tweeting about topics far removed from the Buffaloes' current challenges-like a beauty pageant in Vietnam and scoring tickets to a Miami playoff game.
“Where is his focus?” Borba asked, echoing concerns from fans and insiders alike.
“Is he locked in?” The implication isn’t that Sapp doesn’t care-but in a moment where every coach’s attention should be laser-focused on recruiting, development, and retention, distractions like these can send the wrong message.
And it’s not just the coaching staff drawing scrutiny. Borba also highlighted the departure of Tawfiq Bayard, a player he described as one of the most committed leaders on last year’s roster.
Bayard, who played through a broken hand in one of the season’s tougher games, embodied the kind of grit and heart that teams in transition desperately need. Despite that, Colorado seemed to downplay his value after his exit-a move Borba strongly disagreed with.
“Bayard was one of the few guys who didn’t check out,” Borba said. “He played hurt, he cared, and he showed up every single week. Losing a player like that stings.”
That kind of leadership is tough to replace, especially in a program still trying to find its identity under Sanders. The Buffaloes started the season with sky-high expectations and national attention, but as the losses piled up, so did the questions. Now, as the team looks ahead to the offseason, it’s clear that the work goes far beyond the Xs and Os.
For Sanders, the challenge is twofold: rebuild a roster that can compete in a stacked college football landscape, and ensure that everyone around him-coaches, staff, and players-shares the same vision and urgency. That means taking a hard look at who’s in the room, what they’re focused on, and whether they’re truly aligned with the program’s goals.
There’s no doubt Sanders still has the charisma and clout to attract talent. But building a winning culture takes more than flash.
It takes cohesion, accountability, and a shared commitment to the grind. If Colorado is going to turn the corner, it starts with the foundation-and that begins with the people in Sanders’ corner.
The spotlight isn’t going anywhere. The question now is whether the Buffaloes can tune out the noise and get back to work.