Deion Sanders made many ambitious claims upon accepting the head coach position at Colorado. Almost three years later, many of those claims have materialized.

Sanders ushered in a Heisman winner (Travis Hunter), guided his son (Shedeur Sanders) to the NFL Draft, and posted the most victories in a single season for Colorado since 2016, attracting more attention than nearly any other program in college football.

Last Saturday, Shedeur was back in Boulder to visit his father during the Cleveland Browns’ bye week. However, instead of a celebrated return, it highlighted the rapid decline within a year.

After a brutal defeat to Utah, Colorado suffered a 52-17 loss to Arizona. Over the past two weeks, the Buffaloes have been outscored 81-7 in the first half, quashing their hopes before they began. While losing to Utah is understandable—the Utes are a top-tier team—the loss to an Arizona team that was 1-3 in Big 12 play was disheartening.

Following the Utah loss, Sanders remarked that teams had figured out how to beat his squad, especially by applying pressure on quarterback Kaidon Salter and exploiting a shaky offensive line. Arizona executed a near-perfect game plan, prompting an early exit for fans at Folsom Field before halftime.

The Wildcats forced a fumble and a punt, and the Buffs ended the first quarter with negative yards. The Wildcats scored five touchdowns in seven possessions, maintaining a 38-7 lead at halftime aided by two turnovers and a formidable performance from quarterback Noah Fifita.

Ultimately, the tragedy of Colorado’s 2025 season is that they have become unwatchable.

Heading into the weekend, they ranked No. 15 in the Big 12 for both total offense and defense. They were 13th in scoring defense and 14th in scoring offense, with only one player appearing in the top 100 nationally in passing, rushing, or receiving. They are underperforming across the board.

Due to extensive player transfers, Colorado is not particularly young; most top players in the trenches have departed after this season. This year was expected to be a stepping stone, but it seems to be spiraling off track. Many wonder why promising players like Lewis or highly-rated tackle Jordan Seaton would stay with the program next year.

In a previous season, Colorado achieved at least four wins, yet with West Virginia’s resurgence, the Buffaloes face difficulty returning to a 4-8 record. In the last two weeks, their performances have echoed the lowest points experienced in the 21st century.

In the past decade, Colorado has only lost consecutive games by five touchdowns once, during that 1-11 season. Now, after another heavy defeat, the 2025 season adds to that bleak record.

What’s next? Publisher Adam Munsterteiger suggests staff changes are on the horizon, along with new portal signings. “This season, there has been a lack of leadership in the locker room, which was evident in Salt Lake City,” he remarked to CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford. “Sanders has shown he’s willing to make tough personnel decisions. I expect adjustments to his staff soon, whether in the next month or after the season concludes.”

However, how appealing will the situation be for new arrivals? Sanders’ first offensive coordinator, Sean Lewis, was let go midseason, and his first defensive coordinator, Charles Kelly, departed after only a year. Currently, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator Robert Livingstone are both under scrutiny.

When a new coach arrives, the roster’s stability is uncertain. The team has added 104 new players over the past two recruiting classes. Among the 38 players categorized as seniors or graduates, the risk of an exodus remains high. There’s no certainty that incoming talent will improve the current state, particularly without the intrigue of a successful season or the opportunity to play alongside future NFL prospects.

It seems likely that Sanders will return in 2026, perhaps with a fresh set of potential coaches and players. For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado will roll the dice, hoping for a favorable outcome.

However, Sanders may also choose to step away for health reasons—having dealt with bladder cancer and blood clots throughout his coaching career. He would be justified in prioritizing his family’s well-being if he decides to do so.

Simultaneously, Sanders signed a lucrative five-year, $54 million contract before the season, significantly more than he earned throughout his NFL career. Colorado cannot realistically dismiss Sanders without facing substantial backlash from fans, and a $33 million buyout further complicates matters.

Regardless of future developments, one thing is clear: “Coach Prime” has made a mark. His shocking victory over TCU in 2023 remains memorable, where he asked reporters if they believed in him. He achieved feats in 2024 that many deemed impossible.

From his local coaching gig in DFW to significant victories at Jackson State and Colorado, Travis Hunter’s achievements are already etched in college football lore. The narrative of “Deion”—his unexpected rise in coaching and unprecedented feats—will likely expand as it is recounted over the years. This is often how legends grow.

But for now, the Colorado fairytale seems to have concluded, and harsh realities await. Unless another superstar family member is poised to join, a way out appears increasingly unlikely.