ESPN insider raises questions about Deion Sanders’ future at Colorado after rough stretch

The Colorado Buffaloes are heading into their Week 6 bye with more than a pause on the schedule. ESPN’s Pete Thamel, as reported by Yahoo Sports, has publicly questioned Deion Sanders’ future in Boulder, pointing to a challenging stretch marked by a three-game losing streak and escalating criticism around the program’s on-field performance.

Through the first five weeks of the season, Colorado’s results have not matched the expectations that typically surround a major-profile coach and program. According to the report, the Buffaloes are 2-3 entering the bye, and have lost each of their last three games. The timing matters, too, because the bye gives coaches and administrators a brief window to reset and assess what adjustments are needed before the season’s middle stretch begins.

The report also attributes much of the concern to offense. Colorado’s attack is described as “anemic,” with the Buffaloes struggling to consistently score points. In a college football season where weekly execution often determines momentum, an offense that cannot put points on the board can quickly compress a team’s margin for error, affecting everything from play-calling variety to time-of-possession strategy.

Beyond the record and game-to-game execution, the conversation has expanded to administrative and contractual realities. Yahoo Sports’ account of Thamel’s reporting includes a reported $26.1 million buyout figure, a number that indicates how costly it would be to make a coaching change in-season or before the agreement’s natural endpoint. Buyouts do not guarantee outcomes, but they often shape decision-making because they affect the practical flexibility of athletic departments.

None of this confirms that Sanders will be replaced, and it is important to separate a discussion of possibilities from a formal decision. Still, when a high-profile coach is being publicly questioned in connection with a midseason skid, it typically reflects a broader assessment that extends past one bad weekend and into a pattern of performance. For Colorado, that pattern has now included three consecutive losses and the kind of offensive production that has failed to stabilize results.

What to watch next is how the team responds after the bye, especially in the areas the report highlights. If Colorado can improve scoring efficiency and sustain drives, the tone around the program could soften quickly, even if the season’s record still needs repair. If the offensive struggles persist, the question of what comes next for Sanders will likely remain active, because administrators and fans tend to treat continued performance issues as an indicator rather than an anomaly.

In practical terms, the remaining portion of the schedule becomes more consequential once a team reaches the midpoint with a sub-.500 mark. Every week after the bye offers a clearer view of whether the Buffaloes can separate themselves from a prolonged slump. For Sanders, that means the next games will not only decide standings and bowl positioning, they will also heavily influence the narrative ESPN and other major outlets are likely to pursue.