Deion Sanders made a powerful entrance at Colorado, dramatically transforming the team through the transfer portal. He brought in his sons and several top players to join the Buffaloes, significantly boosting the program’s profile. The “Prime Effect” was immediate and caused waves. Colorado quickly became the talk of college football, starting the season with a stunning upset against No. 17 TCU and following it up with wins against Nebraska and Colorado State.
However, the initial momentum faced a harsh reality check. As the season progressed, Colorado encountered the stiff competition of the Pac-12, resulting in a series of losses. The team finished with a 4-8 record, losing its final six games. Despite the tough finish, Sanders has remained steadfast in his commitment to Colorado, asserting his intention to stay for the long haul. Nevertheless, many believe that opportunities elsewhere will always tempt him.
One of Sanders’ early mentors, Former Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Barry Switzer, believes that Sanders would eventually leave Colorado for a position that better suits him. “Deion is going to go where it fits Deion,” Switzer remarked on OutKick’s podcast with Dan Dakich.
He acknowledged that while Sanders might be trying to establish himself at Colorado, coaches typically seek the best fit for themselves. Reflecting on his own career, Switzer noted that even in his prime years at Oklahoma, there was always a sense of looking for better opportunities.
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“I don’t say he is tied to Colorado; he is going to try and establish himself there, but Deion is going to go what fits Deion, and I understand. All coaches do that. I did it when I was at Oklahoma. Hell, I had one of the best jobs in the country when I was here in the ‘70s and ’80s. I wasn’t going anywhere. I wished they paid me more, but it was a different time and a different era.”
Barry Switzer EXCLUSIVE: Colorado and the rise of Deion Sanders
Rumors have already linked Sanders to potential openings, notably to replace Lincoln Riley at USC after the 2024 season. This speculation is fueled by the likelihood that his sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, will declare for the NFL Draft, making a transition to professional coaching more appealing.
Despite the rumors and potential opportunities, Sanders has expressed a clear preference for staying in the college game. In a January conversation with Robert Griffin III, Sanders stated he has no desire to coach in the NFL. He explained his reasoning and said the challenge of motivating professional players who are already well-compensated. Sanders highlighted his passion for shaping young athletes in college, appreciating the influence he can have on their development both on and off the field.
“I love the college game,” Sanders said. “I love still having influence on the minds and the games of these young men. I love shaping them and molding them. I couldn’t do that on the next level.”
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While the future remains uncertain, Deion Sanders’ impact at Colorado and his dedication to college football are undeniable.
Police in Northern Colorado are investigating after a crash involving multiple vehicles claimed the life of a pedestrian.
The Greeley Police Department received reports of a crash at the 5500 block of Highway 34 around 5:50 p.m. on Monday. When officers arrived, they discovered that two vehicles were involved in a crash with a 19-year-old woman who attempted to walk across the highway.
Police said there was no crosswalk in the area, and she was struck by the driver’s side of a Chevrolet Blazer. The impact knocked the woman into the inside lane, where she was struck by a Chevrolet Traverse. A witness told officers they saw the woman crossing the roadway ‘as traffic arrived at her location.’
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First responders attempted life-saving measures on the woman at the scene before she was taken to North Colorado Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. GPD said the Weld County Coroner’s Office will release her identity at a later time.
Neither driver involved was injured in the crash. Police said they don’t expect charges to be filed against those drivers at the moment, but the case remains under investigation. The police department asked anyone with information on the crash to contact Officer Ed Kubala at Edward.Kubala@greeleypd.com.
Colorado’s best ski deal? Maybe one that costs nothing at all. At Steamboat Springs’ Howelsen Hill, “Sunday Funday is taken to an entirely new level,” reads the city webpage for Ski Free Sundays. Yes, on Sundays throughout the season, visitors need only to walk into the ticket office to grab a pass at no charge. […]
While Colorado ranks near the middle of U.S. states for carbon emissions per capita, it still produces enough CO2 per person to rival countries on the World Bank’s list of top emitters internationally.
In 2023, Colorado produced 13.9 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per capita. If it had been ranked by the World Bank during the same year, Colorado would have placed 14th among the more than 200 countries on the list, just behind Canada, at 14.1, and just ahead of the U.S. as a whole, at 13.7.
Among U.S. states, Colorado ranked 26th in carbon emissions per capita. Wyoming had the highest per capita emissions in the country, at 92.9 metric tons, while Maryland had the lowest, at 7.8.
Most of Colorado’s emissions come from energy production and consumption, primarily natural gas and oil production and electric power production and consumption.
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This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
References:
Colorado State Energy Profile, U.S. Energy Information Administration, accessed in December 2025. Source link
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2023 Colorado Statewide Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, pg. 128, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, November 2024. Source link
Senate Bill 24-230 Oil and Gas Production Fees, Colorado General Assembly, accessed in December, 2025. Source link
Senate Bill 23-016 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures, Colorado General Assembly, accessed in December 2025. Source link
Carbon dioxide emissions, World Bank Group, 2024, accessed in December 2025. Source link
Energy-related CO2 emission data tables, U.S. Energy Information Administration, accessed in December 2025. Source link
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Type of Story: Fact-Check
Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.
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Cassis Tingley is a Denver-based freelance journalist. She’s spent the last three years covering topics ranging from political organizing and death doulas in the Denver community to academic freedom and administrative accountability at the…
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