Deion Sanders earns two big contract bonuses after Colorado win over Cincinnati

Deion Sanders earned $300,000 in bonuses after Colorado improved to 6-2 on the season by defeating Cincinnati 34-23 during Week 9.

The Buffs head coach earned a $150,000 bonus for a sixth regular season win, and another $150,000 for Colorado’s bowl eligiblity, per USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz.

Coach Prime earns his bonus as his Buffs secured their fifth win in six games against the Bearcats. Not only is Colorado bowl eligible, but they’re also at the forefront of the Big 12 title picture conversation. BYU and Iowa State remained undefeated in conference play after Week 9, while Kansas State and Colorado are the only two one-loss teams.

Kansas State gave Colorado its lone loss during that six-game stretch, escaping Boulder with a come-behind 31-28 victory. That means the Buffs will need losses from both the Cougars and Cyclones to have a shot at finding themselves in the conference championship game.

Unfortunately for Colorado, they play neither BYU or Iowa State during the regular season, and with the K-State game behind them, it appears that Coach Prime and company do not control their own destiny despite their strong start to the season.

However, the victory further pushes Colorado past its preseason win total of 4.5. With four games left in the regular season — they’re looking to further shatter the glass ceiling that was given to them as Colorado continues its hunt to Arlington, and in turn, the College Football Playoffs.

Coach Prime put their mission into words after the Week 9 win.

“It’s cute. It really is, because we really want that,” Sanders said of his team’s bowl eligibility. “But that’s not all we’re after. That’s one of the hurdles that we’re jumping over, that we’re going over. That’s a tremendous hurdle, that we’re happy, we’re excited, but that’s not the end goal for us. That’s the beginning, but we are thankful and appreciative that the hard work is going noticed.”

Colorado will travel to Lubbock for a matchup against Texas Tech in Week 10 seeking its seventh win of the season, a mark they haven’t reached since 2016.