Deion Sanders' Colorado football contract will likely be renegotiated after rumors of a potential jump to the Dallas Cowboys dominated the news cycle during the dead period between the CFP semifinals and the national championship game.
On SI's Emmanuel Walker projects Coach Prime's pay to resemble Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin's once, or perhaps if, pen meets paper on an extension.
"Georgia's Kirby Smart, USC's Lincoln Riley, and Ohio State's Ryan Day all earn over $10 million annually, with their success highlighted by conference championships and CFB Playoff appearances. While Coach Prime hasn’t achieved these milestones yet, his star power and cultural impact rival, if not surpass, theirs. A salary comparable to Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s $8.85 million would seem fitting, considering he hasn’t won a conference championship either," Walker wrote.
There is a major sticking point, though. Sanders may not be willing to stick with CU for the duration of his deal if the university isn't serious about investing in his Buffs.
"The broader question, however, revolves around Sanders' long-term commitment. He has often stated that his son Shedeur has only been coached by him, and with Shedeur heading to the NFL, his personal motivations may shift. Colorado must also consider how long donors and collectives will sustain their financial contributions to maintain competitiveness," Walker wrote.
If Coach Prime wants to stay at Colorado long-term, he'll likely have to accept that he'll never get the funding he desires. Boulder isn't a football town and will always be interested in off-field investments over winning the Big 12.
That is what makes the NFL so realistic. Sanders is never going to deal with the troubles of high-stakes meetings with boosters at an SEC or Big Ten school, but an NFL owner with endless pockets who could provide him with winning talent seems more and more like a distinct possibility every day.