Football games are often framed as battles, but sometimes true wins happen far from the field. After the Colorado Buffs’ humbling 37-21 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, Warren Sapp, the Hall of Fame defensive tackle turned Colorado assistant, found his own silver lining in an emotional meetup. Even though his head coach Deion Sanders’ College Football Playoff hopes took a big hit on Saturday. It didn’t stop the graduate assistant from celebrating his personal victory.

The reunion came with his son, Jaelon Sapp, whom he hadn’t seen in years. The retired Tampa Bay Bucs DT took Instagram and posted a heartfelt caption: “Not the Outcome we was looking for, seeing my 1st born was Great! @jaelon_sapp #HouseSapp #SappNotFishing Love you my Son!” And Jaelon Austin Sapp returned the love with a simple, “Love you too ✊🏿💪🏿” comment.

Sapp’s reunion brought a personal highlight to a night otherwise dominated by Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, who delivered a stellar performance. Daniels threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, slicing through the Buffs’ defense with surgical precision. However, Daniels wasn’t just playing for the win; he was playing with a chip on his shoulder after the Buffs staffer’s pregame comments called him a “little jitterbug.” Daniels responded postgame, saying, “I think I showed I’m more than a jitterbug,” with a sly grin.

The on-field clash was as much a showcase of Daniels’ growth as a quarterback as it was a reality check for Colorado’s defense. Despite their No. 16 ranking heading into the game, the Buffs couldn’t handle Kansas’ fast-paced offense. For Warren Sapp, this loss underscored the challenges he faces mentoring a young defensive line. “We’re building something here,” Sapp said postgame. “These boys are learning, and sometimes that comes with tough lessons.” He sure has learned a few lessons himself, such as not trash-talking before the game.

Talk about things on the field, so it was a night to forget but learn, especially for Coach Prime’s staff member and his son. With already a lot happening, Shedeur Sanders shoved one of the officials from behind, which almost saw him ejected. As Mike Pereira suggested, he was “lucky” he didn’t get ejected. Surely, the Buffs’ head coach has a lot to say about all the chaos.

Unlike Warren Sapp, Coach Prime kept it professional

Deion Sanders, as candid as ever, didn’t hold back after his team’s rough loss. Despite knowing Sapp’s take on his rivals, Coach Prime took a different route. He had nothing but praise for the Jayhawks, highlighting their resilience and the leadership of their head coach. “Great game by KU. They’re a reflection of their coach,” Sanders remarked, showing his respect for their performance.

But when it came to his own squad, Sanders didn’t sugarcoat it. “We got intoxicated,” he admitted, referencing how recent success might’ve gone to their heads. “We didn’t play CU football. And we got our b—- kicked.” His honesty was refreshing, as he pointed out the dangers of overconfidence in a sport where every game is a test.

Now with their CFP dreams over, they need to sit back and analyze what went wrong before and after the game.