Deion Sanders vows to get Colorado back on course after 3-9 season: 'This was the Last Supper’

Colorado's 2024 season ended with a 9-4 record, a Heisman Trophy winner and head coach Deion Sanders in discussions about taking over the Dallas Cowboys. Let's just say the 2025 season was something of a step back.

In their season finale, the Buffaloes lost 24-14 to Kansas State and fell to a 3-9 record (1-7 in Big 12 play). Their season is officially over, with bowl game contention out the window three weeks ago. They still have yet to win a bowl game under Sanders.

Colorado has been one of the most discussed programs in college football since Sanders arrived three years ago. The first season had its moments but was overall a disappointment. The second season was a big step forward, but not enough to get the team within striking distance of the College Football Playoff. This season was a free fall.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Sanders pledged to make "severe changes" on both sides of the ball after ranking in the bottom three in the Big 12 in both yards gained per play and yards allowed per play:

"We won't be in this situation again, I can promise you that. I can promise you that, because I'm not happy with nothing right now."

Sanders took responsibility for the product on the field and didn't mince words about changes Colorado needs to make. He ended the conference by saying he appreciated the work of the reporters, then pledged that he is still the person to build Colorado into a contender:

“You don’t have to go easy on me, I’m a big boy. I’ve been doing this for a long time. And when I win, I don’t mind a clap. When I lose, I don’t mind a boo. I played this game. I know this game like the back of my hand and I love this game, and I love all the ups and downs, the ins and outs about it. I’m built for every last bit of it.

“If anybody’s built to reconcile and to get this back on course, it’s me. And I will do it if it’s the last thing I do on Earth. Trust me when I tell you. This was the Last Supper.”

This year saw a Colorado team never find its groove after the exit of reigning Heisman winner Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders. The biggest symptom of the Buffaloes' woes was the quarterback position, where a three-player group of Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, five-star freshman Julian Lewis and pre-Sanders holdover Ryan Staub never saw a consistent starter emerge.

Salter began the year as starter, but was benched in favor of Staub in Week 3, then took back over in Week 4. He had his best game of the season in an upset of then-No. 22 Iowa State, but was so bad the next game against Utah that Lewis was given the job for the rest of the season. Until Saturday, when Sanders turned back to Salter so Lewis could redshirt 2025.

Obviously, there are plenty of avenues for Sanders to make changes while building around Lewis, including his coaching staff and transfer portal activity. Programs can completely change in the span of a spring in modern college football, and Sanders is likely to get as much runway as he needs in Boulder while being under contract through 2029.

You'd also imagine we'll be hearing much less NFL chatter around him this upcoming offseason.