NIL, the transfer portal, and Coach Prime’s star power all set up Colorado football perfectly to relive their glory days, says BuffsBeat’s Mark McIntosh — who sees an avenue to success with the current formula displayed during the 2023 season.
“The transfer portal, NIL money, social media and Sanders’ star power are ideal for today’s media-driven college football landscape,” McIntosh prefaced before saying, “Beneath all that? On the field. Now and then? Programs with talented players and coaches who will not quit. Dynamic duos, as Coach Mac would say, ‘Divinely designed’ for future greatness. Time will tell.”
Regarding NIL, there’s no better place to be than the Buffs with Shedeur Sanders ranking No. 1 in valuation and Travis Hunter, who has been injured for more games than he’s played, ranking No. 4. The portal is what brought both stars to Boulder, as well as 84 other transfers. Coach Prime’s star power is too transcendent to capture in a sentence.
Coach Prime ‘worth the spectacle’ for Colorado football regardless of what happens next
CBS Sports’s Dennis Dodd believes that no matter when Coach Prime leaves the Colorado football program, he will have been “worth the spectacle” for the Buffs, the University of Colorado, and the cities of both Boulder and Denver.
“Whether the Buffs merely go to a bowl game or eventually win a national championship or their coach bounces prematurely, Sanders will have been worth it for the spectacle,” Dodd prefaced before saying, “But so is the time one takes to seek out Halley’s Comet as it streaks across the heavens once every 75 years. Sanders has certainly shone as bright. Now, how long can his light shine in Boulder?”
According to USA TODAY, the rough numerical value of Deion Sanders’ arrival to northern Colorado is a staggering $280 million.
"“The $280 million is a conservative estimate compiled by USA TODAY Sports. It includes increases in football ticket sales from last year ($20 million), increases in donations ($8 million), increases in other categories (at least $3 million) and the estimated value of the increased media exposure that came with hiring a Pro Football Hall of Famer who attracts so many cameras ($249 million).”"
That’s the kind of revenue that could have an institution thinking of a record-breaking payday, and Coach Prime, whether he gets it or not, is probably worth it to CU.