Growing up a Florida State fan, I was always enamored with Deion Sanders. Nearly four decades later, I still consider him far and away the most charismatic and fascinating coach in college football.
The thought of Coach Prime returning to Tallahassee to lead the program where he became a legend always seemed like destiny.
Sanders expressed interest in the Florida State job before Mike Norvell was hired in 2019. Norvell eventually delivered an undefeated regular season and ACC championship in 2023, earning a lucrative contract extension that helped him survive a disastrous 2024 campaign.
But Florida State finally pulled the plug Sunday after another disappointing start.
The opportunity Sanders seemingly wanted has arrived. Unfortunately, he may have nobody but himself to blame if the Seminoles look elsewhere.
The biggest problem is that things haven’t been much better in Boulder.
Colorado enjoyed a remarkable nine-win season in 2024 behind Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. But the Buffaloes followed with a 3-9 campaign in 2025 and are just 3-5 this season.
Even after Saturday’s overtime victory against Kansas State, Colorado faces a steep uphill battle to reach just its second bowl game in four seasons under Sanders.
And some of Coach Prime’s problems have been entirely self-inflicted.
At a time when some college football coaches are flying around in helicopters to visit high schools and recruit the next generation of stars, Sanders has taken an entirely different approach.
During an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, Sanders made his philosophy unmistakably clear.
“I’m too old to be going to somebody’s school, somebody’s house.”
In July 2024, Sanders elaborated during an interview with On3’s Phillip Dukes. He suggested that visiting a prominent high school such as IMG Academy in Florida could create resentment among coaches at nearby schools he didn’t visit.
“Other coaches, they can do that, but I can’t.”
Those comments came more than two years ago, and it’s certainly possible Sanders’ philosophy could change. However, a USA TODAY investigation confirmed he hadn’t made an off-campus recruiting trip for Colorado.
That’s particularly surprising considering how much of Coach Prime’s life is documented by Well Off Media and others who follow his every move.
I’ve long believed that constant video coverage could actually be an advantage in recruiting. Imagine Sanders showing up at high school games across Colorado, meeting coaches and connecting with prospects, with those visits becoming part of the content that has made his program a national attraction.
Instead, he’s largely relied on recruits coming to him.
That approach has generated excitement and attracted talent, but it also raises questions about the relationships Colorado is building with high school programs, particularly within its own state.
The constant turnover among players and assistant coaches is equally difficult to ignore. Colorado entered 2026 with eight new on-field assistants, including new coordinators on both sides of the football.
There is something to be said for continuity, developing relationships and establishing a culture that doesn’t require another significant makeover every offseason.
Sanders has repeatedly chosen a different path. The results suggest that approach needs reevaluation.
Which brings us back to Florida State.
Would Tallahassee get a different Coach Prime?
I genuinely believe it would. His love for Florida State, his understanding of the program’s tradition and the opportunity to restore his alma mater (I know he graduated elsewhere) could bring out another level of commitment.
But can Florida State afford to trust that it would?
That’s an enormous question for an administration preparing to spend nearly $50 million moving on from Norvell.
Sanders is uniquely capable of energizing a fan base, attracting national attention and making college football more interesting. Those qualities have never been in doubt.
What remains uncertain is whether he can build a sustainable winner without relying on a constant stream of roster changes and exceptional individual talent.
The irony is that Norvell’s struggles created an opportunity for Sanders to position himself as the obvious successor. Instead, Colorado’s own inconsistencies have made that argument considerably harder.
Florida State and Deion Sanders sound like a match made in college football heaven. In theory, it’s everything you could want. In reality, unless the people writing that nearly $50 million check to make Mike Norvell go away are equally enamored with Coach Prime, it probably isn’t happening.
And that’s a shame for college football.
Because in so many ways, this was meant to be.
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