NIL deals are flooding in like it’s the gold rush, and Buffs players are stacking cash like pro league stars. But somehow, Coach Prime—yeah, Deion Sanders himself—ain’t even in the highest-paid club? Wild, right? The man took Colorado from a forgettable 4-8 to a solid 9-4, put the Buffs on prime-time TV, and basically turned Boulder into college football’s newest hotspot. Yet, when the paychecks get handed out, he’s not even cracking the top 35?

Deion Sanders Jr. is out here demanding justice, and honestly, he’s got a point. The Sanders crew has become the Kardashians of college football—everywhere you look, there’s an NIL deal, a sponsorship, or some viral content. But while the exposure and hype are at an all-time high, Coach Prime is sitting at 38th on the list of highest-paid college football coaches with a $5.7 million contract.

Let that sink in. A guy who brought in record-breaking viewership, endless brand partnerships, and legit playoff buzz for the Buffs is making less than Maryland’s Mike Locksley. Ouch!

Now, Deion Jr. made waves by reposting an IG story calling for an 8-figure paycheck, and honestly, the math adds up. If Colorado really wants to keep Coach Prime around, they’d better back up the Brinks truck and get him into that $10 million range. That would put him in the same league as Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, FSU’s Mike Norvell, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and USC’s Lincoln Riley.

And speaking of Norvell—the HC is making $10 million a year despite coming off a disaster of a 2-10 season. Meanwhile, Coach Prime, who literally flipped a program overnight, is sitting $4 million behind him? Make it make sense. And here’s where it gets worse—his contract incentives aren’t helping much. Even if Sanders hits every bonus possible, he’s looking at an extra $2.4 million, which still wouldn’t move him up much in the rankings. Oh, and let’s talk buyouts—because that’s where things get real sketchy.

If Ohio State ever wanted to part ways with Ryan Day, they’d have to cough up a whopping $37 million. Coach Prime? His buyout started at $10 million, but it’s now down to $8 million thanks to a dip in his 5-year, $29.5 million contract. It’ll keep dropping, too—$5 million in 2026, $2 million in 2027, and so on. That’s a whole lot of wiggle room if an NFL team comes knocking. So yeah, no surprise people are speculating about a possible exit.

Is Coach Prime really looking for a change?

Deion Sanders isn’t going anywhere when it comes to big-money CFB contracts. But is the NFL legend destined for the NFL? Turns out, Sanders recently revealed to ESPN that he talked to Jerry Jones about the Cowboys’ coaching job after they fired Mike McCarthy. Intriguing, right?

But then he denied the whole move as a rumor: “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up and process it and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body, and the community.”  Well, here’s the catch. Rumor has it that Deion Sanders desired more funding for his staff and NIL initiatives, but Colorado’s athletic director, Rick George, was not particularly accommodating. Apparently, George met Deion’s requests with significant “resistance.” It’s surprising to witness some hesitation in supporting a coach who has turned the program around so dramatically.

However, in college football, sustained success requires more than just one exceptional season. It relies on effective recruiting, leveraging the transfer portal, and, yes, financial resources. And let’s be real: if they want to compete with powerhouses like Alabama and Ohio State, they need to invest more.

Money’s definitely a factor, but Deion’s future in college football seems to depend on a few key things. His 2025 plans for the Buffs are a big deal, and he’s made it clear: the only NFL gig he’ll take is one where both his sons are playing. But let’s be honest, the NFL knows Sanders’ worth. So what’s the next chapter in this saga?