Sep 19, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders takes the field with his team for warmups before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Colorado Buffaloes were on the wrong end of good, old-fashioned butt-kicking at the hands of the Northwestern Wildcats over the weekend, and head coach Deion Sanders wasn’t nearly as amused as some of his players were with the result.
Following the loss a number of Colorado players were spotted laughing and joking, which didn’t sit well with the superstar head coach.
“You know, you did see a couple guys that I just got on. Because I don’t understand how much — how you can have joy in a loss, especially when I’m upset,” Sanders told reporters after the game. “And I’m walking right behind you. I don’t understand that. I can’t never understand that.
“Because I want to win every darn thing. And I can’t understand how in the world, do you find joy, or you could find a laughing matter, when I’m right behind you walking in? I don’t understand that. And I addressed it. And I’m gonna put my foot in it, not on it.”
Apparently, Sanders followed up on that displeasure by having some difficult discussions with players who are no longer members of the Buffaloes’ football team.
Coach Prime said there’s “a few guys not on the team anymore” when asked about how players reacted after the Northwestern game pic.twitter.com/5nzMuTYNub
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) September 22, 2026
Deion Sanders Explains Decision To Kick Colorado Players Off Team
Sanders met with members of the media on Tuesday. He explained that multiple players who were with the team for the game against Northwestern are no longer with them going forward.
“It’s a few guys that (are) not on the team anymore,” Sanders told reporters.
“It’s never one [thing],” he added. “I’m one the most loving and giving and forgiving men you could ever meet. But when you start [having] conduct detrimental to the team, you don’t care about the team, you care about you, I have a problem with that. A year ago, I didn’t put my foot down in it enough. It lingered a little bit. Then, it imploded.
“I’m not doing that anymore.”
Safe to say, losing will not be tolerated at Colorado. More so, finding joy in losses is expressly prohibited. Sanders is trying to change the culture in Boulder. And sometimes that requires sending a message. Even if that message may seem harsh to the general public.