Get the popcorn bucket ready, because Coach Prime is back in the spotlight, and he’s not exactly whispering bedtime stories. Colorado opens Year 3 of the Deion Sanders era with the same drama, discipline, and dazzle that’s made Boulder must-watch TV. But before we even get to kickoff, Sanders is laying down the law—and this time, the message isn’t just about football. Nope, the biggest opponent in Colorado’s way might not even be Tech, Kyle Whittingham’s Utes, or K-State. It’s something far sneakier.

So here’s the scoop: Deion Sanders has issued his squad a stern set of classroom commandments. Before the Buffs even settle who’s replacing Shedeur Sanders at QB, the biggest fight is in lecture halls. On August 20, Deion Sanders Jr.’s Well Off Media dropped a behind-the-scenes film session that showed Coach Prime schooling his players on campus etiquette. Forget blitz packages or cover-2 schemes, Sanders was on about “no slides, no hoodies, no headphones, no back row.” He told his players flat-out: “We start school tomorrow… So this evening everything is off. I want you guys to make sure you have all your supplies for school. You understand what supplies are? Correct. Okay. You’re going to be off because I want you to get all your supplies for school. Get ready. No slides. If I see you with slides on campus tomorrow, it’s going to be a problem… If I see you with a hoodie on in class or some headphones on in class, it’s going to be a problem. If I see you sitting in the back of the classroom, it’s going to be a problem. Do we understand that?”

Deion’s always been crystal clear: academics come first. Since he touched down in Boulder, he’s tied NIL money to classroom performance, “When you stop going to class and I see a multitude of Fs and Ds, we’re gonna affect your check.” He isn’t bluffing either. Under Sanders’ reign, the Buffs hit a program-best 3.011 team GPA in Fall 2024, topping their own spring record. That momentum rolled into Spring 2025 with a 2.957—proof that when Prime talks discipline, it sticks.

The deeper cut here? Sanders isn’t just worried about grades. He’s worried about peer pressure. He laid it out raw: “This is the thing that poses the biggest threat to me, that I’m truly concerned of. And I had to get out the house for the first time, you as well. And they start doing things that are not indicative of who they are, because they’re playing, they’re trying to be accepted.” Translation? Coach Prime knows the off-field game—fitting in, losing yourself, forgetting the values you were raised with—can ruin more players than an injury ever will. He’s seen too many young men throw away futures trying to look cool.

And then there’s the fashion police part of it. Deion flat-out banned CU gear as a flex on campus. “I don’t want to see you going up there looking crazy with CU gear on and you got on slides and a white beater,” he warned. He told a story of a player strolling into class in full team sweats just to announce he played ball. Prime wasn’t amused. “We’re not gonna do that,” he snapped. “Smart, tough, fast, disciplined, with character.”

But if you think this is old-school coach talk, Sanders flips the script. He’s got his players taking financial literacy and public speaking classes. Why? Because, in his words, “Communication and knowledge is wealth.” He always reminds his roster daily: 95% of y’all are not going pro. The goal? Build men who can thrive in life, not just survive on the field.

Top 3 Colorado Buffaloes matchups in Big 2025

Colorado fans know what’s at stake this season. After a 9–4 breakout with a Heisman winner, the Buffs now enter a new era minus their two brightest stars. They’re not getting much preseason love—just one lonely AP poll vote and a No. 45 spot in the Coaches Poll. But with Kaidon Salter battling JuJu Lewis at QB and a roster buzzing from Sanders’s cultural reset, Colorado’s still on the radar. ESPN even circled three games as must-watch TV (per ESPN’s Bill Connelly). Let’s break them down.

Colorado vs. Georgia Tech (Aug. 29, ESPN, 6 p.m. MT):

Call it the “Silent Beef Bowl.” These two schools have been side-eyeing each other since 1990, both claiming national titles in a pre-Playoff era mess. The Buffs rode the infamous “Fifth Down” to glory, while Tech felt shafted. Fast-forward 35 years, and the grudge still lingers. This year, Folsom Field’s turf sees the first snap of a Colorado squad minus Shedeur and Travis Hunter. Will it be Salter or JuJu under center? Whoever it is, their debut is under the Friday night lights. Georgia Tech, stacked and rising under Brent Key, won’t make it easy. Expect the hype to be bigger than the grudge itself. Week 1 will either expose Brent Key or Deion Sanders.

Colorado vs. Utah Utes (Week 9):

If Georgia Tech is about history, Utah is about muscle. Straight up, this game is a bar fight in helmets. Utah, preseason Big 12 favorite, just snatched arguably the most electric QB in the nation in Devon Dampier. They also brought his former OC, Jason Beck. Colorado bulked up too, hiring weight-room wizard Andrew Swasey. Last time? The Utes steamrolled the Buffs (23-17). This time? Colorado wants revenge.

Colorado vs. Kansas State (Nov. 29):

The regular-season finale. The one that could decide if Colorado’s Cinderella run continues or crashes. Kansas State, led by QB Avery Johnson and sitting pretty at No. 17 in the AP, is built for big stages. Last year, Colorado and K-State turned Folsom Field into a thriller. This year, the stakes are even higher. It’s a conference title audition, and Coach Prime loves the spotlight.

Most forecasts suggest Colorado may take a slight step back in 2025, with Athlon Sports projecting an 8–4 finish and a 6–3 mark in Big 12 play. Oddsmakers have the Buffs’ win total at 6.5, and analysts like Geoff Schwartz remain skeptical they’ll clear that number. Media projections vary—some point to a bounce-back year under Coach Prime, while others view this as the stiffest test of his tenure. Even so, bowl eligibility remains a strong expectation, and if player development progresses as planned, a 7-win season is well within reach. Deion Sanders even promised Colorado superfan Miss Peggy for Bowl game dub.