Deion Sanders has transformed CU football, and it’s time for an extension to keep him in Boulder
In just two seasons, Sanders made CU a hot topic, turning a one-win team into a must-watch program. They finished 9-4 this season and were even tied for the top of the Big 12 until a tough loss in the Alamo Bowl. That loss stings, but it doesn’t take away from the amazing turnaround he’s led in Boulder.
With a Heisman winner in Travis Hunter and a projected first overall NFL draft pick in Shedeur Sanders, he’s changed how teams build their rosters using the transfer portal. Now, it’s time for CU to show Coach Prime that they’re serious about football.
Even though he has three years left on his contract, it’s clear he deserves an extension. George took a gamble hiring Sanders when CU didn’t have the funds, but Sanders has more than paid his way with sellouts, merchandise sales, and a surge in student applications.
Before the bowl game, Sanders mentioned on “The Rich Eisen Show” that talks about a new deal were happening. He’s confident in George and believes they can work something out to bring a national championship to Boulder.
His contract has a clause for discussions about an extension after Year 3, but waiting until the end of the 2025 season isn’t realistic anymore. With NFL teams and other colleges eyeing him, CU can’t afford to let him slip away.
From the moment George hired Sanders, he wanted to extend his contract. Whether you’re a fan of Sanders or not, you can’t ignore the impact he’s had. George has made it clear he wants Sanders to finish his career at CU.
George believes Sanders can do great things for the program long-term. Without him, CU could struggle, especially with the current landscape of college football where coaches have to constantly recruit their own players. Sanders has shown he can handle that challenge, as seen with the recent signings of quarterbacks Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis.
There’s a model for what an extension could look like, like Curt Cignetti’s new deal at Indiana, which pays him $8 million a year. Sanders is in the third year of a five-year, $29.5 million contract, which is a steal considering what he’s done. He can definitely ask for more than Cignetti.
After a rough 2022 season, Sanders turned things around, winning four games and drawing attention to CU. In 2024, they made it into the Associated Press Top 25 with some impressive wins. It was a great season, but it highlighted the need for better players.
CU wants to compete for conference titles and make it to the college football playoff, and Sanders is key to making that happen. He’s the one who gets recruits to take CU seriously.
When George brought Sanders on board, it was a huge win for the program. He’s proven that he can deliver, and it’s definitely time for a change in direction for CU football.
