Head coach Deion Sanders brought more attention to Colorado than the program had seen in decades. Former NFL star and CFB analyst Mark Schlereth just reminded everyone that attention does not win football games.

Schlereth appeared on The Next Round on June 25 and was asked about the state of Colorado's program heading into 2026.

"This is an organization that's actually got to win games and actually produce as opposed to just create hype," Schlereth said on The Next Round. "At this point, I think most people feel like that program is all sizzle and no steak."

That quote is hard to argue with when you look at what Colorado actually did on the field last season. They went 3-9 and 1-8 in Big 12 play, then lost their final five games by an average of 24.6 points. Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders walking out the door after 2024 changed everything.

Schlereth said he gets what Deion created there. ESPN is showing up for spring ball. Packed houses. The whole country is paying attention. That was all real. His problem was never with the hype. It was with the fact that the roster kept getting blown up every single offseason. You cannot win that way.

"The bottom line is you got to win games, and you got to put a product on the field that can consistently compete," Schlereth said in the same appearance.

He also pointed to the two specific issues that have followed Colorado throughout the Sanders era.

"They haven't been able to consistently run the ball. They haven't been able to play defense," Schlereth said in the same appearance. "All those things have kind of reared their ugly head."

Those problems were real and on the scoreboard every week last season. Colorado also saw 36 players transfer out of the program, with 20 of them landing at Power Four schools. The roster instability made it nearly impossible to build anything consistent.

Deion Sanders is not shying away from what is expected in 2026

None of the outside noise has made Sanders quiet his own expectations. Entering his fourth year at the helm of the Buffaloes, Coach Prime continues to set the bar remarkably high for his players.

"Everybody inside these doors can tell you, it's different when I'm here," Sanders said, per CBS Sports. "I'm going to take my breaks, like every other coach, but I love to be here."

That message came after a tough stretch away from the program. Sanders dealt with bladder cancer treatment last summer and blood clots this spring before getting a clean bill of health.

He brought in over 60 newcomers and added a top-25 transfer class ranked fourth best in the Big 12. New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion came in with a spread system designed around quarterback Julian Lewis, who took over late last season.

Whether that is enough to prove Schlereth wrong is a question only September can answer.

What do you think about Schlereth's take on Deion Sanders and Colorado heading into 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore