KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches his team warm up prior to a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
It would not be a surprise to Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre if Deion Sanders were to take over as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy's job is in jeopardy as the team struggles through a 4-7 season and Colorado Buffaloes' Deion is emerging as a favorite to take the position and return to the NFL.
"If he (Jerry Jones) does go in the direction of firing Mike McCarthy, which I have no idea which way he's leaning -- Deion may have a shot to step in there," Favre told TMZ Sports.
In addition to the underwhelming season, McCarthy's contract is set to expire at the end of this year. However, Jerry Jones has said that it is not "crazy at all" for the Cowboys to consider a contract extension for McCarthy.
In a perfect storm, both Shedeur and Shilo Sanders—Deion's sons—are seniors at Colorado and are on track to enter the NFL draft after the season, giving Deion all the more reason to move up to the big leagues.
Favre, Deion's former teammate in Atlanta in 1991, believes Sanders is "definitely worthy of a shot."
"I think the world of him," Favre said. "I know him personally. So, I know what kind of character he has."
McCarthy might have a few more chances to save his job as the Cowboys face the New York Giants at home on Thanksgiving.
Video: Deion Sanders Explains Why Travis Hunter's Thorpe Award Snub Made Him 'Mad'
Nov 27, 2024
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 16: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates with head coach Deion Sanders after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field on November 16, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders was pretty shocked that two-way star Travis Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back, calling the omission the "most idiotic thing in college football" while speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
In a behind-the-scenes video by Well Off Media on Wednesday, Sanders further elaborated on why he was so frustrated by the snub.
"How in the world can you be up for the player of the year, defensive player of the year, but [not the Thorpe]? How does that make sense?" he said in his office while meeting with Hunter ... "This is my theory. I figured it out, because it was on my mind all night. See, this is what they're thinking. They're thinking that you are going to win other awards, and you weren't going to be there. So guess what I did? I checked the dates of the award ceremonies. See this award ceremony is on the same date as this award ceremony. So they figure you're going to win this award and not want to come get that award."
He added: "Then when you look at the statistics, it really made me mad. That really made me mad. That really made me mad. But statistics shouldn't matter because it's the threat, like the threat. The threat, like I ain't gonna throw it over here 'cause I know."
If Sanders is referring to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, his timeline is a bit off, given that it takes place on Saturday, Dec. 14. The Jim Thorpe winner, meanwhile, will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Hunter is already up for the Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year), Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver) and Maxwell Award (Player of the Year) at that same awards show. He almost assuredly will be a finalist for the Heisman as well.
"He has a very paternal approach to his players, like a fatherly figure. There's tough love, it's important to have their back especially in college. I don't know if it would work in the NFL, but this fatherly figure it works."
Another theory, of course, is that while Hunter's offensive stats jump off the page (82 catches for 1,036 yards and 11 interceptions)—and his player of the year candidacies are supported by the fact that he's playing at a high level on both offense and defense—his stats at cornerback aren't quite as impressive.
This season, he posted 30 tackles, nine passes defensed, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
That argument falls apart on two fronts, however. First, consider the defensive stats from the Thorpe finalists. Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron has registered 41 tackles, eight passes defensed, four interceptions and a sack. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has 50 tackles, three passes defensed and zero interceptions. And Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks has 55 tackles, two passes defensed and an interception.
Unless you really value tackles, those statistical profiles for defensive backs aren't more impressive than what Hunter has posted.
Voters need to STOP PUNISHING Travis Hunter just because they don’t like Deion Sanders. Travis Hunter is not a product of hype. He should have been a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.@TravisHunterJr vs Jim Thorpe Award Finalists
Not having Travis Hunter as a FINALIST for the Thorpe Award is crazy...It devalues the award...He is the best CB in CFB and his numbers reflect that all his opponents know that.
Plus, as Sanders noted, Hunter has put up his numbers despite teams avoiding his side of the field.
"He rarely gets thrown at," he told reporters. "They just messed up all the integrity of the award and he can have mine. Whoever's voting down there, whoever's bringing it home, thank you. Because I don't even want mine now. God bless you."
So you can understand Sanders—a former Jim Thorpe award-winner himself—sticking up for his guy. And while he may be a touch biased, he's also a Hall of Fame cornerback and his evaluation of the cornerback position is highly credible. And frankly, even from an outside perspective, it's hard to find a logical basis for the Thorpe not naming Hunter a finalist.
Deion Sanders: Travis Hunter's Jim Thorpe Award Snub 'Most Idiotic Thing' in CFB
Nov 26, 2024
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 16: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates with head coach Deion Sanders after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field on November 16, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Deion Sanders is not happy about Travis Hunter being snubbed from the list of finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday.
The Colorado head coach, who won the award at Florida State in 1988, voiced his frustration about Hunter not being included among the best defensive backs in the country.
"How is Travis Hunter snubbed by the Thorpe Award?" Sanders said at his weekly news conference Tuesday in Boulder, per USA Today's Brent Schrotenboer. "You can have my award. You can have it back. Matter of fact, I'm going to give him mine. I ain't using it. It's just sitting up there collecting dust. So Travis can have my Thorpe Award, because if this ain't the most idiotic thing in college football, that he's not a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and he is, I would say arguably, but I don't think it's really an argument about this young man being the best defensive back in college football."
The finalists for the coveted award are Jahdae Barron of Texas, Caleb Downs of Ohio State and Malaki Starks of Georgia. Hunter has 30 tackles, a forced fumble and three interceptions this season and his numbers are similar to those who were named as finalists.
While Hunter won't hear his name called for the Thorpe Award, he's still in the running for a few other trophies.
He was named one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the top receiver in college football. Hunter, a two-way star, has 1,036 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns this year. He's also a frontrunner for perhaps the biggest individual award in college football: the Heisman Trophy.
Deion Sanders Expects Shedeur, Travis Hunter to Play in Bowl Game for Colorado
Nov 26, 2024
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 19: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes and Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half against Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
As Colorado prepares to end its regular season on Saturday against Oklahoma State, head coach Deion Sanders made it clear that stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter won't be riding off into the sunset just yet.
When asked if the 2025 NFL draft prospects will be playing their last game in a Buffaloes uniform on Saturday, Sanders told reporters, "No, we got a bowl game. It's not the last time you're gonna see them in a Buff uniform."
In recent years, it has become a trend for star college football players to sit out bowl games in preparation for the NFL draft. Colorado's star duo is among the top prospects in this year's draft class, but Sanders sounds confident that the two of them won't be ending their college careers this week.
Shedeur Sanders, Deion's son, is ranked as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft by B/R's NFL Scouting Department. He's completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 3,488 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
Hunter is a Heisman Trophy contender and one of the most unique prospects ever to go to the NFL thanks to his two-way prowess. The 21-year-old has excelled both as a wide receiver and a cornerback, leading B/R's NFL Scouting Department to rank him as the top overall player in the draft class.
Colorado's upset loss to Kansas this past Saturday likely ended its chances of earning a spot in the Big 12 championship game. At 8-3 entering their regular-season finale, the Buffaloes seem unlikely to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
While it would be a surprise to see Hunter and Sanders suit up for a non-playoff bowl game, college football fans would certainly relish the opportunity to see them one last time before they transition to the professional level.
Big 12 Tiebreaker Scenarios for Deion Sanders' Colorado, BYU, ASU Before Week 14
Nov 24, 2024
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA - SEPTEMBER 21: A view of the Big 12 logo on a yardage marker during the game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Kansas Jayhawks against the at Milan Puskar Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The final week of the college football regular season is going to be chaotic in the Big 12.
Heading into Week 14, four teams sit at 6-2 in conference play while while five teams are at 5-3. That means nine teams are still in the mix to reach the Big 12 Championship and there are a handful of tiebreaker scenarios at play.
Here's a look at the tiebreaker scenarios from the conference, via Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.
Big 12 says nine teams - NINE - are in contention for the title game. Here are the tie-breaker scenarios: pic.twitter.com/BjMsbLmosW
The easiest scenario would be if two of the top four teams lost their season finales. That would mean the two 7-2 teams would go to the Big 12 championship. Colorado has arguably the easiest matchup of the week as it will take on Oklahoma State, which has not won a conference game all year. Arizona State has a manageable game against Arizona, Iowa State will face Kansas State and BYU will take on Houston.
As chaotic as this season has been, the easiest scenario is not the most likely one. The only thing the Big 12 championship contenders can do at this point is to take care of business in their final games of the season and hope everything else falls into place.
Heading into Week 13, Colorado controlled its Big 12 championship hopes after suffering just one previous conference loss. That changed on Saturday when Kansas beat the Buffs 37-21. The Jayhawks, who started the year 1-5, have miraculously won three consecutive ranked matchups.
BYU, which started the year 9-0, was also a victim of a Kansas upset and lost another game to Arizona State on Saturday, which largely complicated the Big 12 championship scenarios.
After Kansas and other teams played spoiler to the Big 12's chances of getting an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff, the stakes of the Big 12 championship are even higher.
The winner of the game will get an automatic bid to the first-ever 12-team CFP, and that will seemingly be the Big 12's only Playoff bid since every other team in the conference already has two losses and doesn't have the same resumes as at-large teams out of the SEC and Big Ten.
Deion Sanders, Colorado Drop 7 Spots in Week 14 AP Poll After Loss to Kansas
Nov 24, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes gestures during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Colorado fell in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll after suffering its third loss of the season on Saturday.
Head coach Deion Sanders' squad now sits at No. 23 in the Week 14 poll update, initially owning the No. 16 spot entering the weekend.
The Buffaloes' four-game win streak came to an end with a lopsided 37-21 defeat to a Kansas team that held a mere 4-6 record heading into the matchup.
While the Jayhawks were coming off consecutive victories against Big 12 contenders Iowa State and BYU, it was still a disappointing result for a Buffaloes team that hadn't allowed more than 31 points in a game all season.
Colorado fell in an early 17-0 hole near the start of the second quarter. The Buffaloes cut the deficit to 23-21 coming out of halftime, but they weren't able to get any closer before Kansas pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter continued their impressive individual seasons. Sanders finished 23-of-29 for 266 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, adding 26 yards on the ground.
Hunter caught eight passes for 125 yards and two scores. He continued to make his presence felt at cornerback, recording seven tackles and one pass defensed.
The Buffaloes' chances at making an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game took a major hit with the defeat, as they controlled their own destiny prior to the loss to the Jayhawks. Now, Colorado must close out the regular season with a win over Oklahoma State and will also need some help.
Coach Prime's team would earn a spot in the College Football Playoff with a victory in the conference title game, but that may be the only avenue towards an appearance after dropping to 8-3.
Deion Sanders: Colorado 'Intoxicated with Success,' 'Got Humbled' in Loss vs. Kansas
Nov 24, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes gestures during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders sees a learning opportunity in Saturday's loss.
The Buffaloes fell 37-21 to Kansas to end their four-game winning streak. Following the game, Sanders addressed his team's lackluster effort and acknowledged that they needed to be "humbled."
"The problem is you got intoxicated with success," Sanders said to his team. "You start believing what they are saying, you start listening more to what they say. You bought into all that foolishness that you were this, and you went out there and we got humbled."
The Buffaloes had a decent day in the air, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders going 23-of-29 for 266 yards and three touchdowns, but the run game only produced 42 total yards. The defense allowed Kansas running back Devin Neal to have a day, with him getting 287 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns.
The loss complicates the path for the Buffaloes to reach the Big-12 title game, as BYU and Arizona State have identical conference records to Colorado. If all three teams win next week, Colorado could be the team left out.
A conference championship is Colorado's only path to the Playoff, so the chances to reach that stage look bleaker. However, a Week 14 game against Oklahoma State could be a get-right game that allows them to at least improve from Saturday's performance.
Deion Sanders Trolled By CFB Fans as Shedeur, Hunter, Colorado Lose vs. Kansas
Nov 24, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes gestures during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Kansas running back Devin Neal rolled for 287 total yards and four touchdowns to lead the Jayhawks to a 37-21 win over No. 16 Colorado at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Colorado defense had no answers for anything Kansas did on offense. The Jayhawks finished with 331 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Jalon Daniels was efficient in the air, completing 14-of-21 passes for 189 yards (9.0 YPA) and a score.
The Shedeur Sanders-Travis Hunter connection shined for Colorado as usual, with the latter player catching eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Kansas' defense held Colorado scoreless after Hunter's 26-yard touchdown catch with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter to cut the Jayhawks' lead to 23-21.
Kansas responded with an 80-yard drive ending with a Neal one-yard run for a 30-21 lead.
Colorado only had two more drives, and they finished with a three-and-out and a turnover-on-downs. In between, Kansas went on a clock-killing 14-play, 70-yard drive that elapsed 8:07 and ended with a Neal two-yard touchdown run.
After the Buffaloes turned the ball over on downs, Kansas ended the game with 10 plays over 53 yards and 6:17 in game time. Fittingly, Neal's four-yard run on 4th-and-1 from the Colorado 20-yard line with 1:51 left sealed the deal.
Colorado entered this game with wins in four straight and seven of eight. The Buffaloes also controlled their own destiny for a Big 12 Championship Game berth with a College Football Playoff berth in sight.
It's an ugly loss for Colorado, whose defense sprung a huge rushing leak and whose offense didn't score over the final 27 minutes.
The critics come out whenever Sanders and the Buffaloes lose a game, and that was the case again Saturday.
Wait, Deion Sanders and his insanely overrated Colorado team who has never beaten anyone just got boat raced by a 4 win Kansas team? pic.twitter.com/JdwYqvwY03
Colorado will close the regular season on Friday against Oklahoma State. Per Austin Swaim of FanDuel Research, here's the scenario for Colorado to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Colorado needs to win vs. Oklahoma State and ONE of...
- a Houston win (@ BYU)
OR
- both Arizona (vs. Arizona St.) and Kansas State (vs. Iowa St.) to win
...next week in order to reach the Big 12 title game.
Kickoff on Friday is set for noon in Boulder's Folsom Field.
Deion Sanders: Colorado 'Fumbled' Chance to Control Our Own Destiny for CFP Bracket
Nov 24, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches his team warm up prior to a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said his team "fumbled" a chance to control their path to the College Football Playoff with Saturday's 37-21 loss to Kansas.
"We controlled our own destiny, and we fumbled it," Sanders told reporters after Saturday's loss.
Colorado entered Saturday's game at No. 16 in both the AP Top 25 poll and the College Football Playoff rankings.
The loss marked the Buffaloes' third of the season and threatened the team's chances of a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
The Big 12 gets one guaranteed spot in the first 12-team CFP. Three-loss Colorado, now out of the running for an at-large bid, could still earn that spot by emerging victorious from the conference title game.
But even winning out by defeating Oklahoma State next Friday will not secure the Buffaloes a spot in the conference championship game following the upset to Kansas.
Arizona State ensured they would remain in the Big 12 title game conversation with a 28-23 win over BYU earlier on Saturday.
That will leave Colorado scoreboard watching next weekend to track BYU, ASU and Iowa State.
Should Iowa State defeat Utah on Saturday, all four teams could potentially finish the season with matching conference records. Title game eligibility would come down to tie breakers, starting with head-to-head records and followed by win percentage against common conference opponents.
Every scenario that could get Colorado into the game hinges on the Buffaloes winning next Friday against Oklahoma State.
Colorado will be favored to win. Then again, the Buffaloes were also favored to win against Kansas. Having now defeated Iowa State, BYU and Colorado in consecutive weeks, the Jayhawks have singlehandedly done their best to mix up the Big 12 standings.
The Buffaloes struggled to contain the Jayhawks offense as then team allowed a season-high 520 total yards on Saturday night. Sanders will be looking for big nights from defenders like Shilo Sanders and Travis Hunter as Colorado looks to rebound during next weekend's must-win clash with Oklahoma State.
Deion Sanders: Julian Lewis Committing to Colorado a 'Great Thing for the Program'
Nov 21, 2024
ATHENS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 16: High school quarterback Julian Lewis of Carrollton High School attends a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Julian Lewis, a 4-star quarterback in the Class of 2025, committed to Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday.
And Sanders, unsurprisingly, is quite pleased with that decision.
"It's a great thing for the program," he said during an appearance on the Colorado Football Coaches Show (2:06 mark). "We know that's been in the workings for quite some time. Great kid, great talent. I like the qualities, and the home structure. And I can't wait to be a part of his life and coach him."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNl0ucDUhIA
Lewis is considered the No. 36 player overall in the Class of 2025, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings, with 34 players considered 5-star talents. He's also the No. 6 quarterback overall in his class and the No. 6 overall player from the state of Georgia.
He had previously been committed to USC but de-committed on Nov. 17. The Trojans very quickly secured a replacement, getting a commitment from 5-star quarterback Husan Longstreet.
Andrew Ivins of the recruiting site noted that Lewis "Lacks elite physical traits, but is an elite distributor of the football with his quick release and advanced mechanics that picked apart defenses in the Peach State's highest classification."
He added that he "projects as a new-age point guard that can push the tempo in a modern spread attack with his pin-point accuracy and savvy decision making."
He'll have the chance to win the starting job at Colorado immediately, with star quarterback Shedeur Sanders off to the NFL after the 2024 season.
There remain questions about whether Coach Prime will remain at Colorado for the long haul or eventually seek a job in the NFL, which could at some point put Lewis' commitment to Colorado in peril. Sanders has repeatedly said he has no plans of leaving the school, however.
Outside of landing big names like Travis Hunter and Lewis, recruiting has not necessarily been Sanders' strong suit, though he has done well on the transfer portal. Colorado currently ranked 66th in 247Sports' Composite team rankings, with Lewis one of four 4-star recruits thus far.
Last season, the Buffaloes ranked 95th in recruiting but eighth in the transfer rankings, putting their overall mark at 22nd. On the field, the team is currently 8-2 and in prime position to land a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game, which would give them a chance to automatically qualify for a College Football Playoff berth.
