The Colorado Buffaloes were coming off an impressive upset of then-nationally ranked Iowa State at Folsom Field the last time they had a bye week. Head Coach Deion Sanders – who had just come off another surgical procedure himself – was on the sidelines for the Buffs and oversaw the team’s best four-quarter performance of the 2025 season.
It was all good.
The team held a scrimmage on Wednesday of the bye week where the reserves received the playing time and the spotlight. The positive vibes from the win over the Cyclones was still swirling around the program when Sanders gave the team the rest of the week off.
Sanders himself was ready for a break from coaching, so he did some sight seeing in nearby Estes Park and also spent time at one of his favorite pastimes, fishing at home in Texas.
It was a nice break for a guy who’s had a rough few months, both physically and emotionally.
Colorado Players May Have Taken Too Much of a Break
As for his players, Sanders was pleased with what he saw from them in the scrimmage, but mentioned on his radio show that more than one player returned late from the time off, which clearly didn’t sit well with the third-year coach. The apparent lack of focus on preparation for the next game showed up early and often the following Saturday during a 53-7 drubbing in Salt Lake City at the hands of the Utah Utes. Colorado was behind by 17 points before many ticket buyers found their seats. It was 43-0 at halftime.
The Buffaloes haven’t been the same team since. The beating in Utah was followed by a similar thumping from Arizona on Homecoming the next Saturday in Boulder. Last Saturday, Colorado was improved and competitive in a seven-point setback at West Virginia. Still, a loss is another loss, and this one knocked CU, now sitting at 3-7, out of contention for a bowl game.
This week, Sanders and his team are in the midst of a second bye week, trying to right the ship with two difficult games remaining on this season’s slate. Defending Big 12 champ Arizona State comes to Boulder on November 22nd, and CU ends the season at Kansas State the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Much Less Time Off for Buffs This Time Around
This time around, Sanders isn’t taking time to enjoy his time off. “I wish we didn’t have a bye because I want to get out, I want to keep working,” Sanders told the Boulder Daily Camera. This time the team will practice through Thursday, then take the weekend off. Sanders expects the players to remain in Boulder and on campus this time around.
“I want to see them study more, prepare more because you’ve got to make some decisions, Sanders continued. “They’ve got to make some decisions in the off season. Which directions are we going with them, which directions are they going with us. So, that’s tremendous from here on out.”
Colorado loses 33 players off this roster before Sanders and his staff decide who else he will invite to hit the Transfer Portal. As it’s been every off season he’s been in Boulder, the roster turnover figures to be large. It would be wise for those who hope to stay in silver and gold to make sure they’re on time the rest of the way.
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