Is there a path forward for Deion Sanders and Colorado in the aftermath of a second consecutive embarrassing defeat? That's the question on the minds of a lot of Colorado fans on Sunday morning.
It's also the question making the rounds in the national media.
No, Coach Prime isn't on the hot seat. Colorado and Sanders agreed to a 5-year, $54 million contract extension after last season's nine-win breakthrough. His buyout, if he's terminated without cause, would be over $30 million.
But would Sanders himself consider stepping away after the season? His health has been a major story, with bladder cancer and blood clots making this a challenging year off the field for the third-year head coach as well as on.
At every turn, however, Sanders has reaffirmed his commitment to the Colorado program. He's almost certainly going to be the head coach in 2026. But can he get the train back on the tracks after a disappointing third season?
CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah isn't so sure. The blowout road loss last week to Utah could have been flushed away with a bounce-back performance this week against Arizona. The Utes are legitimate Big 12 contenders, after all, and Rice-Eccles Stadium is a difficult place to play. But a 35-point home loss to a team that came in just 1-3 in Big 12 play before is a lot more difficult pill to swallow.
"The Colorado fairytale is over," Jeyarajah writes. "Reality is coming. And unless Sanders has another superstar family member waiting in the wings, it's hard to see a way out."
Deion Sanders is facing the toughest test of his coaching career
Sanders has never had to worry about quarterback play. His entire coaching career, his QB has been his son, Shedeur Sanders. With him off to the NFL, Coach Prime faced a legitimate QB decision for the first time in his career.
He and Colorado fans have plenty of buyer's remorse on Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, who has struggled to fit the offense the Buffaloes wanted to run. OC Pat Shurmur has struggled to tailor it to Salter's strengths. Freshman Julian Lewis wasn't ready immediately, which shouldn't have been much of a surprise considering he was 17 years old when the season started.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub had a nice moment or two against Delaware, but proved to be totally overwhelmed against Big 12 competition.
The lone bit of optimism in Boulder right now is with the performance of Lewis in the second half against Arizona. Lewis flashed the potential that made him one of the nation's top quarterback recruits in the 2025 cycle. He is the future of the program, and Coach Prime has to do whatever it takes to ensure Lewis is comfortable with his developmental path with the Buffaloes.
Jeyarajah questioned why Lewis - or All-American LT Jordan Seaton - would return to Boulder for the 2026 season. Losing either - or both - would be devastating for the future of the program, and likely signal the beginning of the end of the Coach Prime era.