Deion Sanders has never been one to live a quiet life.
The Colorado Buffaloes coach enters his third season in Boulder, but 2025 has already been a year filled with profound personal milestones. Coach Prime has faced some of life’s most demanding battles off the field, including a successful fight against bladder cancer.
At the same time, he has experienced the joy of watching his sons pursue their NFL dreams and recently celebrated both his 58th birthday and the first birthday of his grandson, Snow. These moments have reminded Sanders that his journey is about more than football.
Sanders has been away from Boulder for three months as he spent time recovering in Texas. Upon his return, one of his first stops was reuniting with 100-year-old superfan Peggy Coppom, a woman who has supported Colorado athletics since the 1940s. The bond between Sanders and Miss Peggy is unique.
Last year, Coach Prime and the Buffs fulfilled its promise to get Coppom back to a bowl game. However, the Alamo Bowl loss to BYU made for a long trip home. Now, Sanders has sharpened his vision for this year. He addressed the new goal at Colorado’s annual kickoff luncheon and made it clear he wants to win one for Peggy.
“Last year, the goal was to get ‘Miss Peggy’ to a bowl game,” Sanders said. “We did that. But when I’m talking to God, he told me I got to be more specific. This year, we want to get ‘Miss Peggy’ to a bowl game and win.”
The goal is ambitious, but don't count out the Buffs, who have carried an underdog mentality since Sanders arrived in Boulder two years ago.
Colorado has not won a postseason game since 2004, when FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt was at quarterback. Also, their bowl history over the past two decades is sparse. Outside of one outstanding season in 2016, there haven't been many thrills at the foot of the Flatirons.
But Sanders’ confidence in this year's roster remains high. Even after losing both of his sons, Shilo and Shedeur, along with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Coach Prime believes the team is collectively stronger and deeper than before.
With quarterbacks Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis competing at a high level, Jordan Seaton anchoring the offensive line, cornerback DJ McKinney emerging as a defensive anchor in the secondary, and wideout Omarion Miller returning to full health, the Buffs see themselves as Big 12 contenders.
Sanders is clear about what he wants. It starts with championships; not consolation prizes of just another winning season. As he put it at Big 12 media days, “We play to win. We don’t just play to compete.”
For Colorado, that starts with a major non-conference affair with Georgia Tech on Friday, August 29 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN).
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