Deion Sanders Had No Words After Reportedly Making Big Decision
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The Colorado Buffaloes are sitting at 3-6 with three games remaining in the regular season, needing to win all three to make a bowl game in Deion Sanders’ third year as head coach. Coming off a 9-4 season, the hope around Boulder was that Sanders’ team would make it to a bowl game for a second consecutive season for the first time since 2004-05.
However, replacing 2024 Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver/corner Travis Hunter and Davey O’Brien-winning quarterback Shedeur Sanders has proven to be much more difficult than Coach Prime expected. Colorado ranks No. 107 in total offense, while also ranking No. 118 in total defense.
While many have felt the issues on defense can be attributed to the personnel and frequent injuries across the board, the struggles on offense have primarily been blamed on third-year offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Something that Sanders reportedly agreed with, according to USA TODAY, which revealed on Wednesday that Shurmur was stripped of his play-calling duties after the team’s 53-7 Week 9 loss to Utah. However, when asked by On3 if he did in fact make the change, Sanders and the program opted to remain silent.
A decision that was confirmed by On3’s college football insider Pete Nakos.
“Colorado declined to comment to @On3sports on the offensive play-calling situation,” wrote Nakos.
While Sanders has been unwilling to publicly confirm the USA Today report, which revealed that tight ends coach Brett Bartolone took over last week ahead of Colorado’s 52-24 loss to Arizona, he did hint on Tuesday that media and fans were clueless regarding what was going on behind closed doors.
“I might already changed it and you don’t know,” Sanders told reporters on Tuesday. “I don’t do stuff and blow the whistles and make major announcements… I don’t do that kind of stuff.”
Assuming Sanders did in fact make the change, it’d mark the second time in his three seasons in Boulder that he has demoted his play-caller midseason, as he demoted San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis in 2023 in favor of Shurmur.
With an alleged new play-caller and a third different starting quarterback in Julian Lewis, the Buffs will head to Morgantown on Saturday to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-6).
Related: Deion Sanders Reported to Make Big Decision Amid Colorado Football Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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