Colorado head coach Deion Sanders enters the new season under immense pressure after the Buffaloes stumbled to a 3-9 record last year.
While he continued reshaping the roster, bringing in over 40 players as more than 30 departed through the transfer portal, the overhaul has only raised expectations in Boulder. Now, with the college football season approaching, Denver Broncos icon Mark Schlereth has offered Sanders a cold dose of reality.
Mark Schlereth Delivers A Blunt Message To Deion SandersDuring an appearance on 104.3 The Fan, Schlereth discussed Sanders being on the hot seat with former NFL veteran Brandon Stokley.
As the clip of Stokley’s cutting criticism of Sanders made its way online, one fan pushed back, claiming they were just blatantly hating on Coach Prime. Schlereth, however, wasted no time pushing back on that fan’s narrative.
“Deion is a friend of mine… But this is a production business! Whether you’re a player or you’re a coach, if you don’t produce wins, you get fired… Get good or get gone is what we always used to say in the locker room,”he wrote on X.
That message cuts directly to the heart of Sanders’ situation. His arrival in Colorado transformed the Buffaloes into one of college football’s biggest attractions. In his first season, Boulder became a celebrity hotspot, with a litany of famous faces appearing at games almost every weekend.
Yet despite all the attention, Colorado finished with a 4-8 record.
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The following year, the Buffaloes finally turned some of that buzz into victories. With Shedeur Sanders leading the offense and Travis Hunter starring on both sides of the ball, Colorado finished 9-4 in 2024.
The Buffs also came close to reaching the Big 12 Championship game.
However, last season, Colorado fell back into familiar inconsistency as Coach Prime tried to move forward without Sanders at quarterback and Hunter’s game-changing presence.
The Buffaloes declined on both sides of the ball, posting a PFN College Team Offense Impact score of 74.4, which ranked No. 80 nationally. Their PFN College Team Defense Impact score of 73.7 placed them at No. 77.
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This offseason, Coach Prime tried to fix Colorado’s weaknesses. He reshaped his coaching staff and brought in Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator, replacing Pat Shurmur. Marion will now install his highly regarded “Go-Go” offense as Sanders searches for a more productive attack.
Sanders promoted Chris Marve to defensive coordinator after Robert Livingston left in February to join the Denver Broncos as defensive pass game coordinator.
Colorado has also gained momentum on the recruiting trail, with its 2027 class currently sitting among the top three in the Big 12.
Speaking during Fall Sports Media Day at Folsom Field on Friday, the Colorado coach explained what he ultimately wants his players to gain from their time in Boulder.
“These kids graduate,” he said. “Getting to the next level. What I mean is a six-figure career, if football is not their destination… For guys who do get to the next level, they last 5-10 years… We want to win, profoundly.”
That philosophy offers a broader definition of winning, but the Buffaloes will still facethe same harsh reality on the field. They will open the 2026 season on the road against Georgia Tech on Thursday, Sept. 3.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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