Colorado’s 1-2 to start the season, and their latest loss to Houston has head coach Deion Sanders visibly frustrated. After giving up 209 rushing yards, Coach Prime didn’t sugarcoat it; he said they got out-physicalled and looked soft.
In a postgame press conference that’s now going viral, he questioned his team’s toughness and called for accountability.
Sanders seemed almost at a loss for words as he tried to make sense of a team that didn’t match Houston’s energy or grit.
Deion Sanders Calls Out Physicality, Focus
After the defeat to Houston, Deion Sanders gave his Colorado team a raw, emotional lecture, not to tear them down, but to wake them up. The Buffaloes gave up 209 rushing yards and managed just 96 on the ground themselves, and Sanders didn’t hold back.
“Right now to be honest with you, I’m lost for words,” he began. “I’m talking about getting our butts kicked when uh, we give up 209 yards rushing, that means we were out-physicalled.”
He pointed directly at the team’s lack of toughness, saying, “Getting 96 yards in football, that means we weren’t physical.”
But beyond the numbers, Deion challenged their mindset. “You didn’t make the best of your opportunities… If you don’t make the best of your opportunities, there’s no way you can be successful.”
He warned against bad habits: “We keep doing the same old things that we’ve always done, then we’ll get the same old things we’ve always got.”
Still, he showed heart. “I’m praying for those ones that are injured… I can’t wait till you recover, so you can get back and do what God has blessed you to do.”
Then came the real challenge: “You need to self analyze yourself. You don’t point fingers to others, but look at yourself first to see what you could have done so that we could have came out victorious.”
Despite the loss, Sanders ended with belief: “I still believe in you…We still feel like we’re gonna have a winning season, and I know we are because we’re like that. You just got to believe that.”
Under-the-Radar Stats Reveal Buffaloes’ Struggles
While the headline numbers tell part of the story, several overlooked stats paint a deeper picture of Colorado’s 36-20 loss to Houston. Perhaps most telling was Colorado’s paltry 0-for-7 performance on third down conversions, a stat that often reflects both play-calling efficiency and execution under pressure.
Equally troubling, the Buffs committed seven penalties for 65 yards, often at momentum-killing moments, including a drive-extending roughing the passer call on third-and-long.
Defensively, Colorado missed 12 tackles, contributing directly to Houston’s 209 rushing yards. One particularly damning figure: the Cougars averaged 6.8 yards per play on first down, consistently staying ahead of the chains.
Special teams also faltered. Colorado’s average starting field position was its own 23-yard line, compared to Houston’s 32, highlighting the field position battle they never won. Add in a mere 9:04 of second-half possession, and the Buffs weren’t just outplayed, they were systematically outpaced.
These stats speak volumes about the deeper issues defensive coach Livingston must address.
If Coach Prime’s postgame message was a wake-up call, the numbers only underscore the urgency. But with honest reflection, renewed physicality, and attention to detail, the Buffaloes still have time to rewrite the narrative and turn belief into results.
Also Read: Deion Sanders Lectures His Team Why It’s Harder To Prove Their Talent In Football Than In Baseball