Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham have a relationship built on mutual respect for one another.
In fact, they almost worked together once upon a time, according to Sanders. Coach Prime has an eye for talent, both on and off the field, and he identified something in Dillingham early that now everyone knows. Dillingham is one of the brightest young football minds out there, and he's done excellent, and quick, work rebuilding the Sun Devils program.
After going 3-9 in his debut season in Tempe in 2023, Dillingham turned things around in a major way last season, leading Arizona State to 11 wins and a Big 12 Championship. He nearly led his team to a major upset of Texas in the College Football Playoff.
He has taken his Sun Devils to a place that Sanders hopes to replicate in Boulder. If Colorado wants to compete for a Big 12 title this season, all roads might lead through Tempe, as Arizona State is widely expected to be among the top teams in the conference once again.
Kenny Dillingham praises Deion Sanders for his ability in building the Colorado brand
Speaking at Big 12 Media Days on Wednesday, Dillingham praised Sanders and his ability to promote the Colorado program:
"He's Deion Sanders. He's unique, of course," Dillingham said, per Colorado Buffaloes on SI's Skyler Gerard. "He's one of the best people at branding. He's one of the smartest, in my opinion, coaches in branding."
It's stating the obvious, of course, but it is nonetheless true. Colorado is now one of the biggest brands in college football, and that's directly due to Coach Prime. Because Sanders himself is a major brand, and he has brought a lot of media attention to a program that sat dormant for many years until he decided to leave Jackson State to take over.
The Buffaloes could be facing a bit of a rebuilding year in 2025. Replacing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders won't be easy, but the program is undoubtedly in a better position today than it was when Sanders first arrived prior to the 2023 season.
There's another step this program can take, and Sanders will continue building up the talent on both sides of the football so that one day, he can do what Dillingham did a year ago and lead Colorado to their first College Football Playoff.