Is Deion Sanders done at Colorado?
Paul Finebaum thinks so.
The ESPN college football analyst believes that Coach Prime is “done” at the University of Colorado.
“When the last image of a program’s last breath is your quarterback in his own end zone throwing a pick six, it’s over,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “And I am not an ‘I told you so guy.’ And I thought I was wrong when I made this bullish statement years ago, and I never liked the move to Colorado. It just felt too far away from his core base. It just didn’t feel right, and I was completely wrong for a while because they bought into it. But that is not an easy place to manage.
“It is going to end either gracefully or spectacularly badly for Deion. I hate it. I know you do. Everybody does because … I’ve come to really respect and admire him. Three or four years ago, I mean, we would be starting this conversation about him and ending it about him, as every show on ESPN would be doing the same thing.”
Colorado lost to Texas Tech, 29-7 on Saturday, dropping to 2-3 on the season. It’s Coach Prime’s fourth season – often a pivotal one for college football coaches.
Chris Jones-Imagn Images.
If Colorado were to fire Coach Prime, who could replace him?
Three coaches are making sense as possible replacements.
3 possible replacements for Coach Prime
UNLV head coach Dan Mullen
Mullen, a former head coach at Mississippi State and Florida, is currently doing well at UNLV. He led the Runnin Rebels to a 10-4 season in 2025 and they’re off to a 3-2 start this season.
The former SEC head coach has experienced major success at the top level of college football and could do well with more resources at Colorado, compared to UNLV, while now having experience out West.
Houston head coach Willie Fritz
While you could argue Houston might actually be a better job than Colorado, Deion Sanders is making around $10 million per year, while Fritz is making less than half of that, at $4.5 million.
Fritz has done well at Tulane and now Houston. He’s 66 years old, but if Colorado wants immediate change and not a ton of rebuilding, Fritz could do well here.
New Mexico coach Jason Eck
Eck is viewed as one of the brightest minds in the sport. He’s led New Mexico to a 4-1 start this season, after a promising 9-4 season in 2025.
The New Mexico head coach will likely have plenty of suitors, but maybe Colorado could act swiftly here.
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Who would you hire if Coach Prime is ousted?
