CU Buffs Students Say Deion Sanders' Football Honeymoon in Boulder is Over

The excitement and hype around Coach Prime's arrival has faded as the team struggles to win.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a college football game, with sharp planes of gold, black, and silver colors representing the CU Buffs' team colors and the fractured nature of the program's current state.The fragmented energy and divided attention of a college football program in transition, as the initial excitement around a new coach fades into the reality of on-field struggles.Boulder Today

On a pleasant Saturday afternoon, the CU Buffs held their annual Black & Gold spring football game at Folsom Field. However, the event lacked the energy and buzz that surrounded Deion Sanders' first year as head coach in 2023. CU students like Elizabeth Stephan and Colin Chow say the honeymoon phase is over, as the team's 3-9 record last season has dampened expectations and enthusiasm.

Why it matters

Deion Sanders' hiring as CU's head coach in 2022 generated immense excitement and national attention for the struggling football program. However, the Buffs' poor performance last season has caused that hype to wear off, especially among the student body. This shift in sentiment reflects the challenges Sanders faces in sustaining long-term interest and support as he tries to rebuild the Buffs into a winner.

The details

The 2026 Black & Gold scrimmage saw a reported attendance of 27,772, but the in-person crowd looked closer to 17,000-18,000, down significantly from the 47,277 who attended the 2023 spring game. CU sophomore Elizabeth Stephan said the 'honeymoon phase has ended' and the team is now 'just kind of a mediocre team that somehow still makes headlines because of our coach.' Fellow student Colin Chow noted that in 2025, 'there were a couple of games we went into, and we were like, '(CU) is going to lose, might as well show up.''

  • The 2026 Black & Gold scrimmage took place on a pleasant, overcast Saturday afternoon.
  • CU announced a spring game crowd of 28,424 in 2024, well down from 47,277 in 2023, Coach Prime's first public exhibition as the Buffs' boss.

The players

Deion Sanders

The head football coach of the CU Buffs, hired in 2022 to turn around the struggling program.

Elizabeth Stephan

A CU sophomore from Minneapolis who says the 'honeymoon phase has ended' for Coach Prime.

Colin Chow

A CU sophomore from Golden, Colorado who says the team's poor performance in 2025 dampened student enthusiasm.

Julian Lewis

The CU Buffs' quarterback who opened the scoring with a touchdown pass in the spring game.

Danny Scudero

A former San Jose State player and one of the top transfer additions to the CU roster under Coach Prime.

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What they’re saying

“We're not anything new and shiny anymore. We're just kind of a mediocre team that somehow still makes headlines because of our coach.”

— Elizabeth Stephan, CU Sophomore

“As someone who came from a Big Ten-school culture, there's a lack of culture here in general for football. It kind of feels like, for me, (for) students, it's like, 'Show up, it's a fashion show, smoke, drink, leave.'”

— Elizabeth Stephan, CU Sophomore

“That was the only game I left halfway through. I mean, they were competitive in ('23 and '24) — even if (CU) didn't win, everyone was excited. People had expectations for weird games or sudden victories. But (last year), it was like, 'Well, we're down 30, no one on this team is going to pull that out.'”

— Colin Chow, CU Sophomore

“No one's valuing spring (football games) anymore. You've got several major colleges not even having spring games. The only thing that would bring it back is if we compete against another school … Winning also helps increase that (interest). But people get tired of the same-old, same-old, at a certain point … Things are so different in college football right now with kids moving, kids leaving … so it's hard for the fan base to get to know all these kids and to buy in and say, 'You know what, I'm going to support that, (and now) he's gone.' So I understand it, wholeheartedly.”

— Deion Sanders, CU Buffs Head Coach

What’s next

The CU Buffs will look to bounce back from their 3-9 season in 2025 and regain the excitement and support of their student body under Deion Sanders' leadership.

The takeaway

Deion Sanders' arrival as CU's head coach generated immense hype and enthusiasm, but the Buffs' struggles on the field have caused that honeymoon period to wear off, especially among the student body. Rebuilding that passion and support will be a key challenge for Sanders as he tries to turn the program around.