Deion Sanders expects Colorado-UCF to be a major weekend for both his and Gus Malzahn's program, and On SI's Jason Jones confirmed that the Knights are likely to have one of their biggest recruiting weekends in Week 5.
"The excitement surrounding this recruiting event is expected due to Coach Prime's homecoming," Jones prefaced before saying, "UCF’s recruiting team took to social media to announce that all recruit tickets for the game have been distributed. This signals not only the importance of the game but also the growing appeal of UCF football under the leadership of head coach Gus Malzahn. Fans and recruits alike are eager to see how UCF stacks up against the much-hyped Colorado Buffaloes, led by Deion Sanders.
"Coach Prime’s presence only adds to the allure. He predicted that UCF would have its biggest recruiting weekend, and early reports suggest that his statement holds true. The game against Colorado is not only an important match for UCF’s season but also a pivotal moment for the program’s future as they look to secure commitments from top recruits."
When the Buffs roll to town, any Big 12 team hosting them may as well be hosting their Super Bowl. CU arguably brought Big Noon Kickoff to Orlando in Week 5, so it's not surprising to see UCF bring many of their top recruiting targets to the table to watch what'd potentially be the Knights' biggest win of the season.
Currently, UCF is favored by nearly two touchdowns at the spread.
Can Deion Sanders be a future head coaching option for UCF?
The Knights are an intriguing option for Coach Prime down the line if UCF head coach Gus Malzahn is coveted by SEC programs like Arkansas or Florida in their potential coaching searches. Sanders is a Sunshine State native and the Knights have invested significant resources into their program since their claimed 2017 national championship.
The only problem? UCF isn't about to give Sanders the autonomy he has had in Boulder. No Power 4 program will do that unless it gets as desperate as Colorado was in 2022. Maybe Cincinnati gets to that point eventually but at this point, that'd be a lateral move.