If the spring game is any indicator, the Deion Sanders hype machine that once electrified Folsom Field appears to be winding down.
Colorado's 2026 spring game had a very low turnout, with independent estimates placing actual attendance at about 17,000–18,000 fans, while the school claimed to have 27,772 "claimed tickets" for the free event.
This marks a steep decline from 47,277 in Sanders' first spring run in 2023. And it also indicates a continuous decline to 28,424 in 2024 and 20,430 in 2025.
colorado spring football
How It Started (2023) vs. How It's Going (2026) pic.twitter.com/lWiSJmiJBi
- Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) 13 April 2026
From packed stands to empty seats: How Deion Sanders' Colorado campaign has faltered
The numbers reflect widespread change in Boulder. After a promising 9–4 season in 2024 on the strength of stars like Shadure Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes fell to a disappointing 3–9 record in 2025.
The program responded with a massive roster overhaul via the transfer portal – bringing in over 40 new transfers and nearly 60 freshmen overall – leaving only 22 scholarship players from last year's team.
Students have openly noted that the "honeymoon phase" is over, with one telling reporters that the program "is no longer about anything new and shiny."
We're really going to see what Neon Dion becomes this season. A former Buffaloes player recently delivered a brutal public criticism of the head coach, accusing him of prioritizing style over substance. He may be right.
Christian Fauria, former tight end for Colorado and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots from 1990–1994, appears zach gelb show And he didn't hold back in his assessment of Sanders' tenure leading Buffalo.
"I'm not a fan of Coach. I'll never be a fan of Coach," Fauria said. "I like the school. It's not me picking on Deion Sanders – I pick on Joe Gibbs, too. I just don't like the way he coaches football."
"I don't think he's very talented. I don't think he can manage the game. I think there's a lot of flashes, but I don't think there's any substance to it."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI_lDs-87wk[/embed]Heading into his important fourth season, Coach Prime emphasized that the program is moving forward with a new coaching staff and a new offensive scheme under Brennan Marion. Sanders also has some new energy after dealing with blood clots earlier this spring.
Yet the empty seats and fading buzz raise an obvious question: Has the magic of prime time in Colorado finally reached its peak?
The 2026 season will provide the answer.
