Deion Sanders talks decision to start OT on offense in loss to Stanford
Most college football teams prefer to start on defense in overtime so that they know if they need a touchdown or a field goal on their offensive possession. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders takes a different approach.
Colorado won the coin toss before overtime on Friday night against Stanford, and Sanders chose to go on offense first to start OT. He made the same decision earlier this year against Colorado State.
Sanders explained that decision after Friday’s loss to Stanford.
“We have a really good quarterback. And I trust him. That’s why. And we went right down and scored,” Deion Sanders said.
The decision didn’t factor into Friday’s game. As Sanders said, Colorado scored on its first overtime possession, and the game went to double-overtime, before Stanford was able to pull off the upset.
What Deion Sanders said makes some sense. The Buffaloes have a much better offense than defense, and getting the ball and scoring first puts pressure on the opposing offense.
Still, it’s a different decision than you see from other coaches around college football.
It will be interesting to see if Sanders alters his strategy moving forward or if the Buffaloes continue to start on offense first in overtime.
Deion Sanders critical of Shedeur Sanders following OT interception vs. Stanford
While Deion Sanders trusts his quarterback, Shedeur Sanders made a costly mistake in double overtime against Stanford.
Colorado and Stanford were tied at 43 and the Buffaloes had a third-and-goal from the 2 when Sanders took the snap and tried to find an open receiver. He continued to backpedal waiting for someone to break free and eventually threw a pass up for grabs that was intended for two-way star Travis Hunter.
Instead, the pass was intercepted by Alaka’i Gilman, and Stanford kicked a field goal moments later to secure the win.
Deion Sanders spoke after the game about Shedeur’s decision and costly turnover in double overtime.
“First of all, he should’ve never thrown the ball. He should’ve never thrown the ball,” Deion Sanders said. “Just give us another down, let’s kick the field goal. Stay in it.”
There was no one open on the play, due in part to a pair of Colorado receivers running into each other during a crossing route. Still, Deion Sanders said Shedeur Sanders should’ve thrown the ball away instead of forcing it into traffic.
“I don’t know if they played it on a replay to show what happened with the receivers on that play,” Deion Sanders said. “Something happened on that play that shouldn’t have happened. He should’ve never thrown the ball, though.”