Deion Sanders has long been a revolutionary figure in the sports world. Uber-cool from the start, he redefined what an athlete could accomplish, excelling in both the NFL and MLB. Now, as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, his influence has grown even further.
In two years, he has transformed a struggling program into a nine-win powerhouse, featuring a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Sanders still believes college football could use some changes, and one of his ideas comes straight from the NFL.
Deion Sanders Wants a College Football Preseason
Since taking over at Colorado, Sanders has not only brought extra attention to the sport but also added the pomp and flair usually associated with the pros. Given his deep NFL roots, it’s no surprise that the legendary cornerback wants to adopt some pro-style ideas.
One of his biggest proposals is an NFL-style preseason. While college football has spring games, they are intrasquad scrimmages, which Sanders sees as a problem. Speaking to On3, he detailed the change he’d like to make.
“I (would) like to play against another team in the spring. That’s what I’m trying to do right now. To have a competitive (game) against your own guys kind of gets monotonous. You really can’t tell the level of your guys because, you know, it’s the same old, same way. Everybody kind of knows each other.”
Simply put, Sanders wants a college football preseason to enhance the regular season experience.
“Towards the end, I would like to style it like the pros. I would like to practice against someone for a few days, then you have the spring game, and I think the public will be satisfied with that tremendously. I think it’s a tremendous idea. I’ve told those personnel who should understand that it’s a tremendous idea.”
That “tremendous idea” comes from Sanders’ deep understanding of the sport. Recognizing how audiences and ratings impact success, he emphasized the importance of spring games.
“The Spring Game will be televised on ESPN2 … on [April] 19th. We got to sell this thing out and pack this thing because the way the trend is going, you never know if this is going to be the last spring game. I don’t believe in that. I don’t really want to condone that.”
The added excitement of real competition would certainly be a major draw, and other programs are already on board. Fran Brown, head coach of the Syracuse Orange, publicly expressed interest in Sanders’ proposal.
Replying to On3’s report on X, he sent a direct message to Sanders.
“@DeionSanders we will come to Boulder for 3 days”
.@DeionSanders we will come to Boulder for 3 days 🎯🍊🙏🏾 https://t.co/RFkyveLPv1
— Fran Brown (@FranBrownCuse) March 17, 2025
If spring games eventually become a bigger part of the college football calendar, we’ll know exactly who to thank.