Deion Sanders' Tough Season: Colorado's Defeat, Quarterback Injuries, and a Glimmer of Hope for Washington State

Deion Sanders didn’t find any solace in Colorado’s Friday night game against Washington State. Despite feeling unwell during the team’s significant loss to the Cougars, Sanders, when asked if this marked the toughest phase of his coaching career, responded with a slightly humorous tone, stating,

“This is the toughest stretch of probably my life. I’m sorry, guys, my head is throbbing.” The Buffaloes’ 56-14 defeat, their seventh loss in eight games, dropped them to a 4-7 record and officially eliminated them from bowl game eligibility.

Sanders acknowledged that illness had affected the team, but he emphasized that it didn’t excuse Colorado’s poor performance:

“They kicked our butts with or without that.” The game saw Washington State leading 42-7 at halftime, with QB Shedeur Sanders leaving the game in the first half due to an injury. Sanders suffered numbness in his hand and an ankle injury, preventing him from returning to the game after briefly coming back to throw a touchdown pass.

Sanders reflected on the challenges, stating,

“He sustained—had numbness in his hand… Couldn’t grip the ball and his ankle, so that took him out of the game, and the rest is history.” Sanders himself had a 6-of-10 passing performance for 86 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game. The backups, Ryan Staub and Gavin Kuld, combined for 6-of-17 passing for 78 yards and an interception.

Colorado concludes Sanders’ first season in charge in Week 13 with a game against Utah. Despite a promising start to the season with victories over TCU and Nebraska, the Buffaloes have faced setbacks, needing overtime to beat Colorado State and securing only one win in Pac-12 play against a 3-7 Arizona State team.

Washington State, with the win, broke a six-game losing streak after a 4-0 start. Standing at 5-6, the Cougars aim to secure a bowl game berth by defeating No. 5 Washington in Week 13.