“Deion Sanders’ Contract Extension Hits a Major Snag: What the NCAA’s Surprising Decision Means for His Future”

Deion Sanders, the charismatic head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, had a week that was nearly all sunshine and rainbows—except for a little rain cloud hovering over the NCAA’s latest decision. First, let’s talk about the good news: Sanders secured a whopping five-year, $54 million contract extension that solidifies his status as one of the top-paid figures in college football. That kind of dough doesn’t just help Coach Prime keep his shades on; it also signifies confidence in a program that’s on the rise. Sanders’ high spirits suggest he feels the magic brewing in Boulder, where he aims to mold young athletes into champions on and off the field.

However, as every seasoned sports fan knows, with the sweet comes the sour. In an unexpected twist, the NCAA decided that Sanders and his Buffaloes would not be allowed to scrimmage against the Syracuse Orange, casting a shadow over spring practices. And you have to wonder—how does one keep the training fresh when scrimmaging against your own squad feels more like a game of tag than a real test? With a lot riding on the upcoming season, Coach Prime’s excitement is palpable, but the challenges continue to mount. What does this mean for the Buffaloes’ aspirations? Buckle up, because this story is only getting started! LEARN MORE.

Deion Sanders had a bittersweet week.

OK – it was mostly sweet. The Colorado Buffaloes head coach earned a big-time contract extension with the program. Coach Prime, who is entering his third season at Colorado, is set to become one of the highest-paid players in all of college football moving forward.

The extension is for five years and $54 million.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” Sanders said in a statement. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base. Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”

Colorado AD Rick George added.

“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” George said in a statement. “This extension not only recognizes coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”

But while it was a good week for Coach Prime in terms of his contract, he got some tough news from the NCAA.

The NCAA ruled that Coach Prime’s Colorado Buffaloes program will not be allowed to scrimmage against Fran Brown’s Syracuse Orange program.

The Football Bowl Subdivision oversight committee said in a video call Thursday that a waiver request from Colorado and Syracuse for a spring scrimmage was being denied.

Many college football programs had been canceling their spring games.

“The way the trend is going is, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game,” Sanders said earlier this month. “Now, I don’t believe in that, and I don’t really want to condone that. … To have it competitive, and to play against your own guys, it can get kind of monotonous, and you really can’t tell the level of your guys.”