Deion Sanders, head coach of the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes, shared heartfelt reflections following his team’s 36-14 loss to the No. 17 BYU Cougars in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
The loss denied Colorado its first 10-win season since 2016 and its first bowl victory since 2004. Struggles on offense and dominance by BYU in the trenches marked an uncharacteristically tough outing for the Buffaloes.
Beyond the on-field disappointment, the game held emotional significance for Sanders, as it marked the last time he would coach his sons, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and safety Shilo Sanders.
“My sons, man, that’s tough,” Sanders said post-game. “That’s tough to know that… that’s it. That walk won’t happen again. We’ve been doing this for a long time, from youth leagues to now. It’s emotional.”
Despite speculation that Sanders might follow his sons to the NFL, he has reiterated his commitment to Colorado.
The challenge ahead includes replacing Shedeur, Shilo, and two-way star Travis Hunter. However, Sanders has laid a solid foundation for the program’s future, securing a recruiting class headlined by five-star quarterback Julian Lewis and assembling the No. 16-ranked transfer portal haul in the country.
The Buffaloes concluded their season with a 9-4 record, a significant improvement under Sanders’ leadership. As a coach, Sanders will focus on strengthening the team for the next season. As a father, he will guide his sons through the NFL draft process.
Though the Alamo Bowl loss marked the end of an era, the memories created between Sanders and his sons on the field will endure as a testament to their unique journey in college football.
