North Carolina's pain could be Coach Prime's gain.
Multiple reports on Wednesday indicated that Bill Belichick and North Carolina have begun having buyout discussions already. The 72-year-old first-time college head coach has gotten off to a disastrous start in Chapel Hill on and off the field.
The inevitable end of Belichick's short tenure at North Carolina could spell good news for Deion Sanders and Colorado on the recruiting trail.
Back in August, Colorado lost an important recruiting battle to North Carolina when 4-star ATH CJ Sadler committed to the Tar Heels over the Buffaloes. Salder, a Detroit native, was a high priority for Sanders and the Colorado staff, and losing him was another in a long line of misses during the 2026 cycle for the Buffs.
A reversal of fortune could be in order.
Deion Sanders must aggressively pursue CJ Sadler to flip from North Carolina
Colorado's 2026 class needs as much help as it can get. Even after landing recent commitments from 3-star WR Christian Ward and 4-star DL Emanuel Ruffin, the Buffaloes still rank just 69th in the country in the 247 composite rankings. It's a far cry from where Colorado has typically ended up since Sanders took over in 2023.
Coach Prime's health concerns have been used as a major negative recruiting tactic by rival coaches, but in spite of his ongoing issues, Sanders is committed to coaching now and in the future at Colorado.
The Buffaloes need some added momentum on the recruiting trail, and Sadler could be the guy who gives it to them if he ultimately chooses to flip. A coaching change in Chapel Hill would undoubtedly cause him to examine his options, and Sanders and Boulder could provide a soft landing spot for the blue-chip recruit.
Sadler could play on both sides of the ball at the next level. He's ranked as the No. 121 overall player in the class in the composite rankings. The Motor City product would be in high demand if he ends up back on the market. Along with Colorado, Maryland, and home-state Michigan were among his finalists when he committed to North Carolina in the middle of August.
Sanders would have his work cut out for him, but Sadler has spoken glowingly of the Colorado head coach throughout his recruitment process.