You know you've made it as a national story when you get parodied on Saturday Night Live.
Colorado football has been precisely that this season, crossing over to the broader pop culture landscape in a way no college team has in years. The Buffaloes’ rollercoaster of a season has helped: Colorado started 3–0, lost back-to-back games to highly ranked teams, scored a last-minute victory over Arizona State, and blew a 29-point lead in a loss to Stanford.
However, the Buffaloes’ appeal starts and ends with coach Deion Sanders, played by SNL veteran Kenan Thompson in an uproarious Weekend Update skit on the show's Oct. 14 season premiere.
Deion Sanders stops by the Update desk. #SNLPremiere pic.twitter.com/cf5QN8xT3I
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) October 15, 2023
On Tuesday, Sanders was asked for his opinion on the sketch.
“I’m a fan of Kenan, let’s get that straight. I love what he’s brought to comedy,” Sanders said. “I had the pleasure and honor to host Saturday Night Live before and I’ll never forget those moments.”
Coach Prime on SNL skit: "I'm a fan of Kenan (Thompson), let's get that straight. I love what he's brought to comedy. I had the pleasure and honor to host Saturday Night Live before and I'll never forget those moments."
— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) October 24, 2023
Indeed, Sanders hosted the show on Feb. 18, 1995 with Bon Jovi as the musical guest. He was at the height of his two-sport fame at the time, having won Super Bowl XXIX with the 49ers 20 days prior to cap a season in which he was named AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Colorado returns to action in another media hub—Los Angeles—this week, as the Buffaloes will pay No. 23 UCLA a visit Saturday evening.
