A development this season has made it likelier Deion Sanders will remain with Colorado football for a long time

Deion Sanders' potential to stay coaching Colorado football has increased ten-fold during the 2024 season. As CBS Sports' Richard Johnson, Brandon Marcello, and John Talty report, Sanders' physical condition has improved significantly -- and that could mean more years in Boulder than most would've projected.

"Sanders' health is a concern. The 58-year-old has had issues with blood clots and blood circulation, forcing the amputation of two toes and multiple surgeries across his tenure as a head coach at Jackson State and Colorado. Multiple sources who have observed Sanders during games say that he's moving better on the sidelines and taking fewer rests. He's had a chair on the sidelines in the past, but hasn't needed one this season," CBS Sports reported.

Without Sanders, there really isn't a plan in place for CU's football program.

""Football is so autonomous and on an island there, and if he leaves, what do you really have?" an AD of a Power Four program in playoff contention said. "I've thought about that. How do they move on? It's going to be a challenge because it's his operation and you have to build it back up from being on the ground floor again," CBS Sports reported.

Retirement was always more likely than leaving for another school, but it looks like Sanders is stiff-arming both and giving Boulder an honest shot.

Colorado will be better off for having Coach Prime stay there. Perhaps he can even keep Bucky with him and turn him into a future coach as well.