Deion Sanders' unorthodox methods praised after Colorado football earns bowl berth

CBS Sports' Cameron Salerno gave Deion Sanders credit for doing something few thought he could do after a 34-23 win over Cincinnati on October 26: reaching his Black and Gold game goal of six games and getting Colorado football to a bowl game in 2024.

"The Buffaloes have already cleared their preseason win projection of 5.5 on sports betting apps," Salerno prefaced before saying, "Many criticized Sanders' heavy usage of the transfer portal over the past two offseasons, but it appears his unorthodox approach to roster building is starting to pay some dividends in Boulder, Colorado."

Sanders was right that the 40-40-20 method -- 40% transfers, 40% grad transfers, and 20% high schoolers making up his depth chart -- could work. He was right that prioritizing his best players, in this case his sons and Travis Hunter, wouldn't alienate the rest of the roster but galvanize them. Coach Prime was right about getting Colorado to a bowl game for Miss Peggy Coppom.

Does that mean the media will admit they're wrong? Not most of them. You'll notice reporting on CU's sixth win is a lot more factual and less editorialized than the doubt was when the Buffs were losing. In fact, it won't be long before the talking heads start saying Sanders isn't going to stay in Boulder and will instead be looking for a bigger job.

And truthfully, Sanders could well see that his job is finished by the end of the season, having gotten his kids and Hunter to the NFL. Retirement has always been more likely than leaving for "greener" pastures.

But for now? At this moment? Coach Prime was right and most of the media was wrong. Salerno was always a believer, to be fair, but some might be out of a job now that CU isn't the circus that they claimed. Those clicks will have to be earned a different way now.

Deion Sanders' Colorado football program buries rumors, excels at culture

In August, Colorado's locker room was likened to Grand Theft Auto. This team was supposed to fall apart after gambling, bullying, hazing, and fighting were supposedly running rampant in Boulder. Coach Prime even banned a reporter from asking questions because of how toxic everything had become from the inside and outside.

6-2 amidst the chaos is an accomplishment those who haven't paid attention to the Buffs won't understand.

This bowl berth isn't for them, though. It's for Miss Peggy and all the Buffs fans who sat through the Karl Dorrell years not knowing if their program would ever recover.