Despite now dropping back-to-back games, Colorado’s Deion Sanders appeared as confident as ever while discussing Saturday’s 48–41 loss to No. 8 USC and the play of his quarterback and son Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders’s Buffaloes, fresh off a blowout loss to Oregon, nearly rallied at home against Caleb Williams and the Trojans despite falling behind 34–14 at halftime. The comeback was largely led by the efforts of Shedeur, who logged his fourth 300-plus yard outing in five games.
When asked about the junior’s latest standout effort, Sanders, again, took the opportunity to sing Shedeur’s praises, rattling off his intangibles before emphatically inviting doubters to eat their words.
“He’s always been a competitor, he’s always lifted the level of competition,” Sanders said of his son. “He’s always given us a chance to succeed at every level. So, I could go on and on but, I don’t want to sound like the dad but I’m really just speaking to you as the coach. … But the kid can flat-out play.
“I know a lot of people doubted him and said I just thrusted him into the starting position, what did they call it, nepotism or whatever? All of you should just look in the mirror and slap whatever you see.”
"All of you should just look in the mirror and slap whatever you see."
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 30, 2023
Deion Sanders calls out the people that doubted Shedeur Sanders 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/l02f6QYjat
While Williams, the reigning Heisman winner, remains a frontrunner, Saturday’s duel still added to Sanders’s own early-season case for the coveted trophy.
CU, tabbed as underdogs entering the contest, showed heart on both sides of the ball against a team with national title aspirations. For Sanders’s part, the QB finished 30-of-45 for 371 yards to go with five touchdowns (four pass) and an interception—a stat line that challenged Williams’s stellar 30-of-40 day for 403 yards, six TDs and his first INT of the year.
As CU looks to rebound amid the two-game skid, Sanders made it clear he’s overjoyed with where the team is headed, with the first-year coach delivering his latest warning to those still unsure about the Buffs.
“If you can’t see what’s coming with CU football, you’ve lost your mind,” said Sanders. “You’re just a flat-out hater, if you can’t see what’s going on and what’s going to transpire over the next several months. Something’s wrong with you.”
"If you can't see what's coming with (Colorado) football, you've lost your mind. You just a flat out hater."
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 30, 2023
Deion Sanders 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ISkPI5JcsH
With its latest hyped game in the books, Colorado (3–2) will look to get back to its winning ways next Saturday, when the Sanders’s lead the team into a rivalry showdown against Arizona State (1–3) on the road.
