Football

Deion Sanders Revamps Colorado Buffaloes with Open Practice Experiment

New rules, phone surrender and a hunger for competition define the Buffaloes' 2026 preseason agenda

A bold new era for Colorado football

Deion Sanders returned to the sidelines after battling bladder cancer, bringing back the high‑energy presence that defined his previous coaching stints. His focus this season is not just on talent but on experience, targeting players who have already logged substantial college snaps through the transfer portal.

The Buffaloes are positioning themselves as one of the most talked‑about programs in the nation, a shift that reflects both Sanders' ambition and the team's desire to break out of past mediocrity. The approach blends a competitive mindset with a willingness to experiment, setting the stage for a potentially disruptive 2026 campaign.

Open practice under strict guardrails

Colorado will open its first practice to fans and reporters, but attendance comes with a clear condition: all cell phones and recording devices must be surrendered at the gate. The school has instituted a blanket ban on any media coverage of sensitive details such as injuries, depth charts, rotations, or scheme specifics.

Tickets for the session sold out within a single day, underscoring the level of curiosity surrounding Sanders' methods. The no‑media rule is intended to preserve the integrity of the drill while keeping strategic information confidential, a move that has drawn both praise and scrutiny from observers.

Defensive back Ben Finneseth captured the team's attitude, describing the roster as "hungry" and emphasizing a work ethic that mirrors the coach's own intensity. His comments reflect a broader culture where competition is expected to drive performance on a daily basis.

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