Paul Finebaum gives major credit to Deion Sanders, Colorado after win vs. Arizona

There wasn’t much quiet about the start of the Deion Sanders era at Colorado. But the Buffaloes have quietly entered the conference title mix this season, their first in the Big 12.

“Deion has not been as vocal the last month: Am I right or wrong about that?” ESPN’s Matt Barrie asked colleague Paul Finebaum on “The Matt Barrie Show” Sunday.

“You’re right,” Finebaum said before launching into some sarcastic humor.

“And I take all the credit for that, Matt. I mean, I was all over him about, you know, ‘win some games, do some…’ — I’m kidding, of course.”

Finebaum then got serious: “But this is what should be going on. We should be appreciating and complimenting Deion Sanders for what he does on the field, not for the show. And that’s what irritated a lot of people. He was getting credited, and we were being asked ridiculous questions.

“I give him major credit for dealing with injuries — the Travis Hunter situation, his two sons both have been banged up — and really go out and convincingly win games. That’s hard to do. This is a bowl team now. I’m sure some of our friends up and down the hall where you live and work will have them in the playoffs tomorrow morning. They’re probably not going to be in the playoffs, but they have a very narrow path to at least take a swing.”

Colorado looks like a bowl team, like Finebaum said, but the Buffaloes are actually one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. That year, Colorado won 10 games. A win total of that kind is still in play for the Buffs, who are now 3-1 in Big 12 play.

They’re 5-2 overall and coming off a convincing bounce-back victory against Arizona. A week removed from falling to then-No. 18 Kansas State, 31-28, Colorado responded to fourth quarter heartbreak with a 34-7 domination of another Big 12 Wildcats team.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders wasn’t perfect — he threw two touchdowns and two picks — but for the second time in the last three games, the Colorado defense impressed. The Buffaloes held Arizona to 245 total yards and kept star receiver Tetairoa McMillan in check, limiting him to five catches and 38 receiving yards.

The Hunter situation Finebaum alluded to is a shoulder injury he suffered against Kansas State. Colorado held the two-way star out for the second half against Arizona as a preventative measure.

Colorado will need Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter at their best down the stretch if the Buffaloes are to continue to make a big push, quiet or not, in the Big 12.