Former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark believes Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders has had a major impact on the university, both on and off the football field. Citing the rise of ticket prices and the strength of the team’s performance in the Big 12 conference, Clark attributes much of this success to the 2011 NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
Ryan Clark’s Backing of Deion Sanders Is Supported With Evidence
On the football field, Sanders has completely changed the fortunes and prospects of the Buffaloes football team since arriving at the school in late 2022. In just two seasons, Coach Prime has been an instrumental force behind the team’s astonishing 8-2 record after being only two years removed from the 1-11 campaign that saw them tied for last place in the Pac-12.
This revolution is due in large part to the aggressive recruiting tactics by Prime Time since his arrival to Boulder. Travis Hunter, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and current favorite for the Heisman Trophy, cited his desire to play under Sanders as instrumental in his decision to transfer to Colorado in 2023.
Off the field, the University of Colorado Boulder has seen attendance, enrollment, and tuition prices skyrocket since Sanders’ arrival. According to Joe Pompliano, the home of the Buffaloes has seen a 20% jump in applications to the school, something reflected in both the in-state and out-of-state statistics.
Deion Sanders is the most underpaid coach in college football — but it's not for the reason you might think.
Colorado's football success has already led to a 20% jump in applications at the school, and they will now focus on admitting more out-of-state students than in-state… pic.twitter.com/3hHMsPpGSY
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 14, 2024
Boulder Daily Camera’s Olivia Doak reports this leap will result in approximately 68,000 individuals applying to the university in 2024. As Clark alludes to in his comments on The Pivot Podcast, the increased academic revenue and interest in the school have resulted in more expensive ticket prices and a deeper passion for the football program as a whole.
As is clear, Sanders is a massive reason behind the recent athletic, academic, and financial success of both the University of Colorado Boulder and the Buffaloes football program.
His coaching style, one focused on intensity and a positive team culture, as well as his reputation as one of the greatest football players ever, has truly transformed a once struggling football program into one of the most exciting and coveted schools to play for in the country.
In only two seasons, the Buffaloes have become one of the top college football programs in the country under Sanders. Off the field, the university has seen financial and enrollment gains that correlate to when he took charge of the football program.
While it’s still unclear whether Sanders’ long-term future is with Colorado or potentially in the NFL, there is no doubting the positive impact and changing reality he has had on the school’s football program.