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Deion Sanders is linked to the Florida State job as smoke surrounds his future at Colorado.
Deion Sanders’ future at Colorado is reportedly unclear. An insider familiar with the program has been told a firing is possible.
All the while, noise surrounding a move to Florida State is getting louder. Will Coach Prime replace Mike Norvell at his alma mater?
To this point, there are many more questions than answers. Both narratives, however, suggest the possibility that he leaves Boulder is growing.
Will Colorado fire Deion Sanders?
The head coach has gone 19-26 across four seasons with the Buffs. The highlight was a nine-win campaign in 2024. Colorado just missed a Big 12 championship and potential College Football Playoff bid. Travis Hunter won the Heisman.
Results outside that season are lacking. Sanders has won just 10 games across his other three years combined. The Buffs are headed for another losing campaign in 2026 as they currently sit at 3-5.
Frustrations are growing, compounded by off-field drama that constantly follows the program. Philip Dukes of Dukes the Scoop suggests discussions are being had about letting the coach go.
“I can confirm after talking to sources, coaches have been told that Colorado is a potential opening,” he said in a podcast this week. “I’ve also had a source tell me that there are some influential people in Colorado who have started the process of trying to figure out where and who they would get the money from for Coach Prime’s buyout.”
Sanders’ buyout sits at around $25 million. That comes as the result of a recent extension where he earned a raise in 2024.
His current deal runs through 2029. He is owed 75% of what’s remaining on his $54 million contract if fired. That is not a small number.
Hence, why the discussions have reportedly taken place.
That does not mean he will be fired this season. Colorado money men are bracing for a potential move at some point in the future, though. We saw it at Florida State with Mike Norvell. Talks of his firing were first had by boosters in October of last season. It took a full year for administration to pull the trigger.
Interestingly enough, that decision has also created speculation surrounding Deion Sanders. Is there a scenario in which he bolts for Tallahassee?
Coach Prime has been linked to the Seminoles.
Norvell is owed over $50 MILLION…what a life.
Gotta wonder if FSU reaches out to Deion Sanders
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) November 1, 2026
There are multiple outlets posting about Sanders’ candidacy at Florida State. Most do not believe it will happen.
Florida State just paid $50 million to fire Mike Norvell. While Sanders was a legend in Tallahassee during his playing days, the ‘Noles will probably pursue a less risky option. He also brings some unwanted “baggage,” according to national analyst Brad Crawford.
“While there is an appetite for someone who is an ‘FSU guy,’ it has been relayed from the top down that some of the baggage that comes with Deion is not desired as they commence this rebuild.”
-Anonymous source via Brad Crawford (247 Sports)
Not only does Sanders bring drama, but a school that hires him away from Colorado will have to pay $10 million. It’s the flipside of the contract buyout previously mentioned.
Can FSU afford to pay that total and match a $10 million annual salary after dropping an estimated $100 million to fire Norvell and his staff? It seems unlikely.
A safer candidate might be Jake Dickert at Wake Forest, who makes less and has proven more at multiple stops. Manny Diaz is another ACC coach linked to the program.
Florida State needs to be safe with its investment. It might be better hiring a cheaper option and spending more on the roster. With that said, there are pros to hiring Deion Sanders.
An immediate spotlight would shine on Tallahassee given Sanders’ popularity and ties to the program. It’s been proven he’ll bring an uptick in revenue noted by boosts at each of his two coaching stops. He would also be able to recruit fertile grounds in an area he remains a college football legend.
Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy thinks he could save FSU.
“Deion is the type of man and leader of young men with a big name, a big personality, and a big brand that if he comes to Florida State, all the old athletes you used to get, you’re going to get ’em again…,” Shady said.
“When you talk about getting the Seminoles back to the glory days… If anybody can come to Florida State and get it poppin’ like Bobby Bowden did, it’s Deion ‘Prime’ Sanders.”
Does Deion Sanders want the Florida State job?
He did back in 2020 but was ultimately spurned. The Seminoles hired Norvell. Sanders ended up at Jackson State. He’s since distanced himself from his alma mater.
During his first year at Colorado, he denied any affiliation with FSU. He said he was an “HBCU grad,” referencing his stint at Talladega College in Alabama where he earned his degree. He is no longer a ‘Nole.
The relationship has been rocky. Is it something that can be mended? Most likely.
Does he want to return to Tallahassee or stay put in Boulder? Again, there are more questions than answers at this point.
All we do know is that smoke surrounds Coach Prime’s future. Is there fire? We’ll find out soon enough. If Sanders does not return to Colorado, someone will be responsible for a buyout.