Deion Sanders proved he was worth the hype.
After being hired in December to turn around a program that went 1-11 in 2022, "Coach Prime" completely flipped the roster, with the Buffaloes returning just 10 scholarship players from 2022 and 68 new scholarship players on the roster.
Colorado Buffaloes head football coach Deion Sanders answers questions at the 70th annual Colorado University Fall Sports Media Day in Boulder August 11, 2023. (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
His methods earned him criticism from some within the sport, but the results can’t be argued with after Week 1.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 PREVIEW: DEION SANDERS MAKES COLORADO DEBUT
Colorado defeated No. 17 TCU 45-42 on Saturday to move to 1-0 and give Sanders his first Power Five victory.
In a wild second half – with 56 combined points – Colorado got the last laugh, stopping TCU late in the fourth quarter to earn the victory
"Thank you, Jesus. I’m so thankful right now," Sanders said on the field after the game.
With Colorado up three, the Buffaloes stopped TCU on fourth down in Colorado territory. The Colorado defense allowed 541 yards of total offense but got the stop when they needed it most.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts during a press conference at the Arrow Touchdown Club. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
"They surrendered some big plays throughout the game, and all we kept teaching was, ‘One stop. One stop,’" Sanders said about the defense.
Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, and Travis Hunter, the no. 1 recruit in the 2022 class, stole the show for Colorado.
Sanders was 38-47 for 510 yards and four touchdowns, while Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards. Hunter, who plays both ways, also had an interception on defense.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders hits the field before the start of the spring game at Folsom Filed. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
"I don’t know how snaps he played, but we’re going to put a hot tub on the plane for him to make sure he’s straight," Sanders said of Hunter.
Sanders will make his home debut in Week 2 against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field.
"We told you we coming," Sanders said when asked for his message for the Colorado fanbase. "We told you we coming. You thought we was joking. And guess what? We keep receipts."