Robert Griffin III sends blunt message about Deion Sanders entering Year 4 at Colorado

Deion Sanders enters the 2026 season facing one of the most pivotal years of his tenure at Colorado, and at least one former Heisman Trophy winner is urging patience.

Colorado opens its season Sept. 5 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, marking Year 4 of the Coach Prime era under Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes are coming off a transitional 2025 campaign after losing their two biggest stars — Travis Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, and quarterback Shedeur Sanders — to the NFL Draft.

Sanders, who is 16-21 since taking over the program, signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March that places him among the highest-paid coaches in college football. The investment reflects Colorado’s belief in the long-term vision, even as on-field results have fluctuated.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III offered a public vote of confidence this week while speaking at Super Bowl 60 Radio Row.

“I wouldn’t doubt Coach Prime,” Griffin said.

The 2026 season represents a rare reset point for Sanders. For the first time since his arrival in Boulder, the roster is fully his own, without inherited starters or the immediate star power that defined his first two seasons. How that roster develops will shape the program and potentially the remainder of Sanders’ tenure.

Colorado is not expected to be ranked to open the season, but the program remains a national television draw. The Buffaloes were the most-watched team in the Big 12 during their first year back in the conference, though viewership dipped outside the top 10 last season as wins became harder to find.

As for off the field, momentum has shifted as well. Colorado has sold out season tickets for three straight years, yet the athletic department is again pushing to attract new fans — a notable change from the peak buzz of 2023.

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Sanders’ return to full-time coaching also looms large. He missed much of the offseason after undergoing surgery to remove his bladder following a cancer diagnosis. Sanders has said he is in good health and fully cleared to coach throughout the season.

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Whether 2026 marks a turning point or a crossroads for Colorado will be revealed soon enough. But with Griffin’s endorsement and a clean slate roster, Sanders enters the year believing another chapter is still there to be written.

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