Colorado had the yards, but Baylor had the scoreboard. Despite outgaining the Bears 363-337, the Buffaloes walked away with a 23-13 defeat, and their eight penalties for 82 yards certainly didn’t help. The defensive backfield, in particular, proved costly.
Now, Deion Sanders is making his frustration clear, and his message to the secondary suggests that someone could be in for a difficult conversation.
“Today he had on mitts and gloves, and I told him, one more penalty, I’m gonna c** his darn hands off so he can’t grab. So he’s gonna be able to do it with straight wrists,” said Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders when asked about Cree Thomas.
These comments came after Thomas was flagged twice for defensive pass interference and once for holding. The three penalties cost the team 37 yards in total, with each one giving Baylor a first down.
His first pass interference penalty came after RB JaQuail Smith’s failed fourth-down run, helping Baylor sustain a touchdown drive. A third-quarter holding penalty later extended another possession that ended in a field goal. These two are particularly expensive for the team as they gave Baylor additional opportunities to keep its offence moving.
Thomas has now committed four penalties in four games, with his Baylor performance marking a particularly difficult outing. Colorado, meanwhile, has accumulated 37 penalties this season, averaging 9.25 per game and placing among the nation’s most penalised teams.
Despite his frustration, Sanders has not lost sight of Thomas’ contributions. The head coach praised the young defensive back’s resilience, noting that he takes responsibility when his mistakes hurt the team.
“Cree doesn’t get down on himself,” Sanders shared. “He gets more upset that he hurt us. But he’s there. He hasn’t given up many catches when he’s bumping. Yet even when he’s not bumping [at the line of scrimmage], he’s given up, maybe, three catches.”
Sanders’ assessment reflects the balancing act Colorado faces with Thomas: his physical coverage remains valuable, but the penalties are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
The coach had previously shown considerable faith in the young cornerback, calling him his “No. 1 guy right now” after 13 spring practices. However, that confidence has yet to translate into consistent discipline during the season.
A redshirt freshman in 2026, Thomas appeared in just three games for Notre Dame last season before transferring to Colorado. He is still finding his feet at the college level, but with plenty of football left, the opportunity to turn things around remains firmly in his hands.
With the Texas Tech matchup looming, Sanders wants Thomas to be fully prepared for what could be one of the toughest tests on Colorado’s 2026 schedule.
The Red Raiders are arguably the strongest opponent the Buffaloes will face in their Big 12 home opener. After reaching the playoffs and winning the conference title last season, Texas Tech will be looking to maintain that momentum in 2026.
Texas Tech has significantly improved its running game, making its offense less predictable and posing a greater challenge for Colorado’s defense. Meanwhile, Cree Thomas will be expected to disrupt the Red Raiders’ receivers at the line of scrimmage, using his physical coverage skills to limit their passing options.
However, if Texas Tech repeatedly targets the area opposite slot cornerback Boo Carter, Colorado may move Thomas inside to play nickelback and help cover that threat.
Sanders is particularly excited about facing Texas Tech, especially with the game taking place in his backyard at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. However, the home-field advantage also brings added pressure for the Buffaloes to deliver a stronger performance.