Colorado’s Chances of Winning Big 12 and National Title Increase with Deion Sanders Extension

• The Colorado Buffaloes have locked up Deion Sanders with a lucrative contract extension

• Sportsbooks have released Colorado’s odds to win the Big 12 & National Championship in 2025

• Read below for the latest on Deion Sanders future, and whether or not you should bet the Buffaloes

Deion Sanders is Colorado’s new $54 million man, securing a five-year extension that keeps Coach Prime in Boulder through 2029. Sportsbooks are offering odds on whether Colorado will win the Big 12 in 2025 and/or capture the National Title in the wake of the signing.

Oddsmakers aren’t overly bullish on the Buffs in 2025, as Sanders faces the challenge of replacing star son Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. However, some key offseason transfers and a promising young QB have those in the Mile High City fairly optimistic.

Here is a breakdown of the Deion contract, followed by the Buffs’ 2025 college football odds and my best bets.

Jump To: Deion Sanders Contract Extension | Big 12 Odds | National Title Odds | 2025 Schedule

Deion Sanders Contract Extension Details

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders has agreed to a five-year, $54 million contract extension with the Colorado Buffaloes. The deal, which runs through the 2029 season, makes Sanders one of the highest-paid coaches in college football and the highest-paid coach in the Big 12 Conference.

Sanders has gone 13-12 in his first two seasons at Colorado, transforming a one-win program in 2023. After going 4-8 in his debut season, the Buffs jumped to 9-4 in 2024 with an Alamo Bowl appearance against BYU.

The new contract gives Sanders a substantial raise, starting at $10 million annually in 2025 and 2026, then increasing to $11 million in 2027 and 2028, before hitting $12 million in 2029. This pay bump puts Coach Prime among college football’s elite earners, showing Colorado’s full commitment to his vision.

The extension includes buyout clauses protecting Colorado’s investment. If Sanders leaves for another coaching job before December 31, 2025, he would owe the university $12 million. The buyout decreases over time: $10 million before the end of 2026, $6 million before the end of 2027, $4 million before the end of 2028, and $3 million before the end of 2029.

Colorado’s Odds to Win Big 12 in 2025

With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter departing for the NFL, oddsmakers aren’t giving Colorado much chance at championship glory in 2025. The Buffaloes are considered a long shot in the Big 12 Championship race after losing their two biggest stars to the NFL.

FanDuel Sportsbook is pricing the Buffs as +1600 to win the conference, which is tied for the ninth-best odds with TCU. With just 5.9% implied win probability, Colorado is clearly in a separate tier than the big dogs such as Kansas State, Arizona State and Texas Tech (+600 range).

Big 12 Conference Championship Odds 2025

Note: Big 12 Championship Game – December 6, 2025, 12:00 PM ET

Is Colorado worth a flier at these odds? Despite being overlooked, the Buffaloes bring in the No. 2 recruiting class in the Big 12 for 2025 (No. 35 nationally), highlighted by four-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who flipped from USC. They’ve also added 17 incoming transfers through the portal, ranking No. 3 in the Big 12 for transfer additions.

Sanders has proven he can attract talent, but replacing the production of a Heisman Trophy winner and a potential No. 1 overall draft pick is a tall order. The reward could be massive for bettors if the Buffs surprise, but they are facing an uphill battle.

I’m not buying Colorado to win the Big 12 at this price in the first year without Shedeur and Hunter. I feel much more confident in a Big 12 team with a returning QB, such as ASU. Sam Leavitt was overshadowed by Cam Skattebo last season, but the dual-threat pivot should be in for another productive season after recording no multi-interception games in 2024-25.

Colorado’s National Championship Odds

Considering Colorado is a longshot in the College Football Conference Championship odds, it’s not surprising to see them priced as even heavier longshots in the National Title odds. Deion Sanders’ team barely cracks the top-40, with FanDuel listing them at +20000 to capture the Natty.

The +20000 National Championship odds for Colorado implies a 0.5% probability of them capturing the chip this college football season. See the top favorites below, with CU’price at the bottom for comparison.

2025 College Football National Championship Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

One major area that needs improvement is the offensive line, which allowed Sanders to be the most sacked QB in the nation during his time at CU. The Buffs have hired Gunnar White to take over OL coach duties, plus brought in some talented transfers such as Illinois starter Zy Crisler.

The problem with rebuilding an offensive line is that it rarely clicks in the first year. These teams that have been winning the National Championship (such as OSU and Michigan), feature guys up front who have built chemistry by playing together for several years.

Colorado has the benefit of playing in the easiest conference in CFB. They will have 7 home games in 2025, including some layups against Delaware and Wyoming. However, their road schedule (BYU, TCU, Utah, West Virginia, Arizona State, and Kansas State) could crush their playoff dreams.

CU Football Schedule 2025

If you had to throw a couple bucks down on a random CFB team to win the Natty, you could do worse than Colorado. Deion is at least a coach that will get the most out of his players. However, I’d like to buy future stock in them a couple years from now rather than anything immediate. Losing two top-five draft picks, including your quarterback, is not a recipe for winning the Natty the following year.

The Colorado Buffaloes football team received a major boost recently with the news of head coach Deion Sanders signing a contract extension. The extension not only solidifies Sanders’ commitment to the program but also increases the team’s chances of winning big in the Big 12 conference and potentially even competing for a national title.

Sanders, who took over as head coach of the Buffaloes in 2020, has quickly made a name for himself as a dynamic and innovative leader. Under his guidance, the team has shown significant improvement on both sides of the ball, with a strong emphasis on player development and strategic game planning.

With Sanders at the helm for the foreseeable future, Colorado can expect continued growth and success on the field. His extension provides stability and continuity for the program, allowing players to build on their existing skills and develop new ones under his guidance.

In addition to Sanders’ coaching prowess, the Buffaloes also boast a talented roster of players who have shown great potential. With a combination of experienced veterans and promising young talent, the team has the depth and skill necessary to compete at a high level in the Big 12 conference.

The extension of Sanders’ contract not only boosts morale within the team but also sends a message to recruits and fans that Colorado is committed to building a winning program. This increased level of confidence and stability can help attract top-tier talent to the program, further enhancing the team’s chances of success in the future.

As the Buffaloes continue to improve under Sanders’ leadership, their chances of winning big in the Big 12 conference and potentially competing for a national title will only increase. With a strong foundation in place and a bright future ahead, Colorado football fans have plenty to be excited about in the coming seasons.