Paul Finebaum lauds Deion Sanders for handling Colorado football's major injuries

Paul Finebaum believes Deion Sanders is handling injuries well as Colorado football's head coach -- specifically, Travis Hunter's shoulder injury, Shilo Sanders' forearm injury, and Shedeur Sanders' 2023 back injury -- and lauded the Buffs for being Big 12 contenders.

Finebaum doesn't see CU as a College Football Playoff contender but does believe they possess a "narrow path" to get there.

“I give him major credit for dealing with injuries. The Travis Hunter situation, his two sons both have been banged up... And really go out and convincingly win games," Finebaum said (h/t On SI). "That’s hard to do. This is a bowl team now. I’m sure some of our friends up and down the hall where you live and work will have them in the playoffs tomorrow morning. They’re probably not going to be in the playoffs, but they have a very narrow path to at least take a swing.”

Deion Sanders overcoming Colorado football's long-held depth concerns

Before the season, and throughout the entirety of the "Prime Time" era in Boulder, Sanders has been criticized for not building deep ranks on their depth chart. But with CU nearly upsetting K-State without Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr., and going on a three-game winning streak without Shilo, that's no longer a valid complaint.

Coach Prime isn't giving the haters much to chew on this season. It's pushed Finebaum to ditch his anti-"Prime Time" stance and give the Buffs coach credit.

Sanders has shattered narrative after narrative, and now, the storylines favor him. Persistance pays off in the sport.