Coach Prime Didn’t Sugarcoat What Went Wrong vs. BYU

Colorado’s Deion Sanders was blunt after a narrow 24‑21 loss to BYU, admitting that parts of the game felt “too big” for his team. “Tough fought game,” he said. “I can’t say I’m highly upset. I’m upset with a few things, but sometimes when it seems like you have more talent, but you didn’t quite win the game, it makes it feel somewhat awkward. We had opportunities, a tremendous amount of opportunities, but nevertheless, we didn’t cash in on them. And sometimes it felt like the moment was just too big for some of our athletes. And they got to do something about that.”

Sanders’ evaluation carries weight because it hits at more than execution. He’s suggesting that the mental edge was missing and that though his roster may have an advantage on paper, the players didn’t always seize the moment under pressure. In a high‑stakes Big 12 environment, games don’t wait for maturity to develop. When Sanders says “the moment was just too big,” he’s criticizing not just missed chances, but how the team reacts when the lights are on.

That kind of message also sets a tone. It’s not just self‑critique; it’s a standard being laid down. Sanders is calling out individuals and the collective to internalize that expectation. He’s warning that talent must be matched by character, urgency, and situational toughness if his program is going to win at this level consistently.

In the days ahead, Colorado’s staff and players will have to reckon with the margin between potential and performance. They’ll have to return to the tape, strip away mistakes, and force themselves into the mindset Sanders is demanding. Because in the Big 12, when those moments come, there’s no grace for hesitation. The question now is whether Colorado can turn this kind of self‑awareness into the kind of growth that prevents it from happening again.