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ESPN insider says Colorado made huge scheduling mistake in 2024; it could be the beginning of the end for Deion Sanders

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 5/8/24

ESPN insider Pete Thamel thinks the Colorado Buffaloes made a huge scheduling mistake in 2024.

And it could be what is ultimately the beginning of the end for Deion Sanders' time in Colorado.

Thamel suggested on ESPN's College GameDay podcast this week that scheduling North Dakota State in the 2024 season-opener was a big mistake.

"They (Colorado) open with North Dakota State," said Thamel. "The associate athletic director who scheduled that game -- whoever scheduled that game should be fired. That is just a negligent, horrible athletic department decision.

"You do not schedule an FCS game you can lose. You just don't do it. Now, North Dakota State might not have been what they were three or four years ago, but they're still excellent. And they are going to be sound."

"That is a game that whoever scheduled that eight years ago or whoever they are, should be shaking in their boots because that's just going to be very interesting," added Thamel.

Sanders and the current staff at Colorado obviously had nothing to do with scheduling the matchup against North Dakota State -- that matchup was originally announced in 2016, long before Sanders decided to cosplay as a college football head coach.

But Sanders and the current administration at Colorado could've pulled a Tennessee and tried to get out of the game.

(Tennessee backed out of what would've been a tough game against Army that would've been played in 2022.)

If the Buffaloes somehow lose to North Dakota State to open the 2024 season, it's going to create a media firestorm unlike anything Colorado football has ever seen before. Sanders and the Buffaloes will get absolutely trashed on social media. The critics of Sanders will enjoy one of the biggest victory laps the sport has ever seen. Coach Prime will be laughed out of college football.

Of course, Colorado may boat race North Dakota State and leave the field with an easy win.

Thamel, however, is right. Colorado has nothing to gain by playing that game (if they win, it won't mean much for the Buffaloes) and everything to lose (again, victory laps and lots of laughs).

The whole country is waiting for Sanders' coaching career to crash and burn. North Dakota State could be the David that knocks off the wannabe Goliath.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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