Deion Sanders clock management causes social media spar

Hayden Victoria

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Deion Sanders clock management causes social media spar image

Deion Sanders found himself at the center of a national conversation Friday night, as college football fans and analysts criticized his late-game clock management during Colorado’s 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech. The trending discussion quickly spilled across social media platforms, with fans accusing Sanders of “coaching malpractice” for leaving two timeouts unused and allowing precious seconds to drain off in the game’s final minute.

Deion Sanders' clock management is questioned on social media.

The Buffaloes, trailing by seven with just over a minute left, failed to stop the clock after two plays, leaving themselves only 18 seconds for a final desperation Hail Mary. The pass fell incomplete, sealing Georgia Tech’s victory and sparking outrage among Colorado supporters and neutral observers alike. Social media posts ranged from calls for Sanders to be “fired” to viral memes mocking his decision-making, with phrases like “masterclass in clock mismanagement” and “braindead clock management” surfacing among trending topics.

This isn’t the first time Sanders’ clock management has made headlines. Last season, similar criticism arose after Colorado faltered against North Dakota State and Oregon State, with questions about whether Sanders or quarterback Shedeur Sanders was in control of late-game decisions. Even ESPN’s Paul Finebaum weighed in, suggesting Sanders’ late-game choices risked the team’s chance to win and needed urgent attention going forward.

Despite the viral backlash, Sanders has typically defended his approach, noting it’s a lesson for his coaching staff and players to learn from as the season progresses. The spotlight remains fixed on Sanders as Colorado looks to bounce back from the season-opening defeat and address the glaring clock management issues now trending nationwide.

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Hayden Victoria

Hayden Victoria is the founding CEO of Texas Sports Network and currently serves as Head of Content at SEC Unfiltered while contributing to USA TODAY’s Longhorns Wire. A proud student at the University of Texas at Austin, he has been credentialed to cover premier events like the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship, and NFL Combine.