The Colorado Buffaloes are struggling in head coach Deion Sanders' third season in Boulder. Although the Buffs finished 9-4 last season, Colorado has started this season 3-5, and have lost three out of its last four games. The Buffs' most recent loss was an embarrassing one, losing 53-7 at Utah.
While Colorado was expected to have to replace stars like his son, Shedeur Sanders, at quarterback and two-way star Travis Hunter, the Buffs were expected to be much more competitive. At the current pace, Colorado is set to have its worst season under Sanders since 2023. That season, Colorado finished 4-8 despite starting the year 3-0.
Sanders is 16-17 through three seasons at Colorado, and there are obvious questions surrounding his future in Boulder. Sanders has not suggested that he will leave Colorado, and his contract goes through 2029. But there is plenty of speculation about just how long he will continue at Colorado, given his team's recent struggles.
With his future looking a bit murkier than it did at the start of the season, let's take a look at the potential best fits for the coach in case he goes elsewhere.
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1. Florida State
Yes, I know the Florida State job isn't open just yet, but there's a real chance it could be in the coming weeks. Head coach Mike Norvell would be owed a hefty $54 million buyout, but the Noles haven't even cracked the College Football Playoff yet.
The Noles have struggled to find consistency since Jimbo Fisher left in 2017, going 45-43 since then under head coaches Willie Taggart and Norvell.
So why doesn't FSU hire one of its most electric players of all time to come right the ship? Sanders played for the Noles from 1985-1988 under legendary FSU head coach Bobby Bowden. The Noles went 38-9-1 while Sanders was there, including four straight bowl wins in the Gator, All-American, Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. Sanders played defensive back for Florida State, but he returned some kicks and punts his last year there.
He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. He finished his FSU career with 13 career interceptions. Sanders has obvious familiarity with the standards in Tallahassee, while his biggest challenge might be recruiting the state of Florida.
Sanders' track record of successfully utilizing the transfer portal and recruiting makes him an obvious fit at FSU. The big question is whether Sanders has won enough at the power-conference level for FSU to justify hiring him. But the fit is certainly there.
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2. California dreaming: UCLA, Stanford
Although Sanders was born and raised in Fort Myers, Fla., he did spend one season in California in the NFL. He played in 1994 for the San Francisco 49ers, where he won a Super Bowl with Steve Young and Jerry Rice.
Palo Alto sits just 35 miles north of San Francisco. The Stanford program has been rejuvenated under general manager Andrew Luck, who is helping with the program's roster building and NIL fundraising. Hiring a huge name like Sanders could bring even more momentum to that and excite the Cardinal fanbase like it hasn't in years.
Speaking of California schools, UCLA also remains open. The Bruins are 3-2 under interim head coach Tim Skipper, who could end up getting the full-time gig. But if UCLA decides to look elsewhere, who else to shine under the bright lights of Los Angeles like "PrimeTime" Coach Sanders? In a recruiting hotbed like California, Sanders could do quite well out in The City of Angels.
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3. Remain at Colorado
Deion Sanders could potentially stay put in Boulder, too. His contract with Colorado goes through the end of 2029, and he is just in his third season with the Buffs.
Not to mention, the Prime Effect has been truly felt in Boulder, even with the team's struggles in 2023 and this season. The school has drastically increased game attendance and tickets sales, which has brought increased revenue to the school. Merchandise sales and television revenue has also poured resources into Colorado.
Sanders appears to have a positive relationship with Colorado athletic director Rick George, as well. The head coach remained committed to Colorado this past offseason, even as his son and Hunter left the program. Don't be surprised if he continues to do so in the coming years.
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4. Head back to an HBCU
Sanders started his collegiate coaching career at the HBCU level at Jackson State. He finished 27-6 as a head coach there, and helped Travis Hunter have a historic flip from Florida State to the HBCU as a recruit.
While moving from a power-conference school to an HBCU could be seen as a step down as head coach, he did quite well coaching at the level previously. Not to mention he could join the likes of former NFL stars like Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson — who are coaches at Norfolk State and Delaware State — coaching in the league.
Prairie View A&M in Texas could come open soon, as Tremaine Jackson has reportedly emerged as a candidate to fill the open UAB job.
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5. Cleveland Browns: NFL reunion with Shedeuer Sanders
This one is another hypothetical, given that the Browns are currently coached by Kevin Stefanski. But the coach's 42-50 overall record in Cleveland, paired with the team's 2-6 start in 2025 means the job could come open in the coming months. While Sanders has said previously that he doesn't think he'd be able to coach in today's NFL, he could reunite with his son Shedeur in the NFL.
While Sanders does not have any NFL head coaching experience, he has plenty of experience coaching his son, Shedeuer Sanders. Colorado went 9-4 last season, and Sanders had a career-high 4,134 yards passing with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also led the nation in completion percentage, at 74%.
Prior to the Sanders' move to Colorado, they spent two seasons at HBCU Jackson State. Deion and Shedeur went a combined 23-3 over three seasons, and won the SWAC in 2023. Sanders reuniting with his son in Cleveland may mean moving on from rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel, however. Gabriel has been Cleveland's starter the last several weeks.
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6. Retirement
Retirement could also be a potential option for Sanders, as the head coach has had a litany of health issues in recent years. Sanders is 58 years old but has been open about recent health issues. At Jackson State, Sanders had two toes amputated as a result of blood clot issues. In June 2023, he also underwent emergency surgery to treat the persistent blood clots.
In July 2025, Sanders revealed that he battled with bladder cancer. Earlier this month, he underwent another surgery for blood clots after saying he experienced pain during Colorado's game vs. TCU. The Buffs head coach has five children, and could potentially step away from coaching due to his recent health issues.
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7. LSU, Florida, Penn State appear to be non-fits
The three biggest college football jobs that remain open are Florida, LSU and Penn State. But neither of them appear to be solid fits for Sanders, for a number of reasons.
Let's start with LSU. The school moved on from Brian Kelly after he became the first head coach in three hires to not win an SEC and national title in his first four seasons. Not only does LSU need a coach that has a deep understanding of the SEC and the Bayou culture, it needs a coach capable of winning a national title in a few years. Sanders doesn't check the culture fit box much, and hasn't won enough. Not to mention the simple fact that LSU has never hired a black head coach to lead its football team.
Winning big is a main reason why Sanders doesn't fit at Florida, either. The Gators have tried to hire up-and-coming coaches like Billy Napier and Jim McElwain despite neither of them winning at the power-conference level. Sanders' 16-17 overall record is nowhere close to the type of winner Florida needs, even if he would boost recruiting.
And last but not least, there's the Penn State opening. Sanders has spent virtually his entire playing and coaching career in places other than the northeast. Sanders coaching at a place like Happy Valley — in the middle of Pennsylvania — seems to be far from a fit.
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