It's time to start paying attention to Deion Sanders and Colorado — for the right reasons

Arizona, a three-point favorite at home against Colorado this past Saturday, thought it was going to catch the Buffaloes sleeping. On the opening kicking on its home field, the Wildcats tried a disguised onside kick in an attempt to steal a possession right out of the gate. 

The ball dribbled past the 10-yard threshold to become recoverable by the kicking team, but Colorado freshman running back Brandon Hood kept his awareness, tracked down the ball and landed on it at the Arizona 46. 

Five plays later, Colorado was in the end zone, jump-starting the Buffaloes’ 34-7 blowout of Arizona in Tucson. The win improved Colorado’s record to 5-2 and 3-1 in the Big 12, but more importantly, it signified the time to start paying attention to Colorado for the right reasons.

The Buffaloes aren’t just talk.

They are good.

“This is kind of disrespectful to start (out the game) like that,” Sanders said after the game. “You are thinking that we are not prepared.” 

Sanders has become one of the most controversial figures in the sport. Despite being one of the most beloved — and electrifying — athletes of his generation, his larger-than-life personality has become quite divisive at this stage in his life. It seems amongst fans, you either love him or hate him. There aren’t a lot of people from which he can’t draw an emotional reaction.

Maybe it’s because Sanders says what other coaches won’t say and does what other coaches won’t do. He has unapologetically been himself, which is loud, proud and maybe a little arrogant. He has reason to be arrogant — he has won at everything he’s ever done – but that rubs some people the wrong way, even opposing coaches.

That’s not to say Arizona coach Brent Brennan set out to disrespect Sanders and his staff. Brennan was probably trying to make an aggressive, unexpected move to gain early momentum at home. But Colorado’s reputation and results from last year make those who aren’t paying attention to these Buffaloes assume they’re the type of team that would get caught napping.

Nope. Colorado was prepared.

Which is why it’s time to give Sanders his flowers. We don’t know what the rest of what this season holds, but Colorado was supposed to stink this year. Like, flat out stink. And when Colorado played a close game with North Dakota State in its opener and then got blown out 28-10 by Nebraska in its second game, it felt like this year was going to just be a repeat of last year — a season in which the Buffaloes lost its final six games and finished dead last in the Pac-12. 

After the North Dakota State and Nebraska games, Colorado kind of went under the radar. People checked out. It’s weird to say, but the crowd gets really loud when it’s time to criticize Sanders. But as the Buffaloes have been stacking wins? There hasn’t been much Colorado chatter. Colorado has basically been playing in obscurity. Maybe it’s the weird television time slots? Maybe it’s a reluctance to give the loud, arrogant coach his due? Whatever it is, it’s time to start paying attention.

Colorado is in the Big 12 race. It is one of six teams in the Big 12 that has one or fewer losses in conference play. In that crazy conference, where every betting spread seems to be 3.5 points or fewer, nobody knows how that’s going to play out.

What has changed? First, the defense. Colorado has turned over almost 100 players on its roster in Sanders’ two years there, but incoming transfers like edge rushers B.J. Green, Dayon Hayes and Samuel Okunlola have made the Buffaloes more efficient along the defensive front. Colorado sacked Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita seven times Saturday. The team leads the Big 12 with 21 sacks this year.

We know about the offense, led by Sheduer Sanders. And even though Colorado’s offensive line is the team’s biggest issue, true freshman Jordan Seaton has been playing better every week. What’s most impressive is that Colorado has been finding success without offensive weapons like Jimmy Horn and Heisman contender Travis Hunter, who missed the second half of the Arizona game as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.

Colorado’s lone loss in the Big 12 was in a thrilling game against Kansas State a few weeks ago. The Wildcats had a 50-yard, game-winning touchdown from Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown, but you have to wonder if Colorado would have lost that game had Hunter not gotten injured and left the game.

Colorado faces a 5-2 Cincinnati team this weekend. The Bearcats, too, have only lost one game in the Big 12. It’ll be a tough test, but Hunter is expected to be back in a larger capacity this week, Sheduer Sanders has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country and receiver LaJohntay Wester has become one of the most consistent receivers in the country.

I’ve been critical of Sanders. The podcast clips have gone viral. It’s not because it was hard to envision him being successful as a head coach. It’s actually quite the opposite. It was easy to believe he could win by doing things differently than any of his peers have ever done.

The criticism has always been more out of disappointment due to his disinterest in recruiting high school players, which, to me, is a sign he doesn’t plan on being at Colorado very long. The truth is, my disenchantment with Sanders has always been a result of not feeling he was living up to his potential long term. He’s a star. Go be one in high school hallways.

Seeing Colorado play this well this season only reinforces what I think this program could be if he ever got serious about recruiting high school players at a high level.

Either way, there’s no looking down at what Sanders has built in the short term. It seemed impossible for a coach to turn over athletes as rapidly as Colorado has for the previous two years and actually field a good football team. This Colorado team isn’t going to go win the national title this year, but it should be competitive in every game it plays in its league. That’s not something Colorado, who has only gone to two bowl games since 2007, has said very often.

The turnaround is unmistakable. And it’s not just because people are writing about, talking about and watching Colorado more now because its coach is a celebrity. It has two of the best players in college football and the team is actually well coached given some of its overt personnel deficiencies.

With a win over Cincinnati, Colorado is bowl eligible.

If you criticized Sanders when he was down, you have to praise him when he’s up.

This team is still worth watching, and not because of antics or chatter.

This team can beat you.