Coach Prime’s Latest Comments Are Stirring Debate in College Football

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders didn’t mince words Thursday when discussing his frustration over injury and availability reports, which he says are too tied to sports betting. “You’ve got to fill it out, because it’s part of, I think, gambling in college football, which we’re being asked to fill out. That’s what it’s all about,” Sanders said during his weekly coaches show. “I hate that, that we have to fill it out so people can bet on our games.”

Sanders went on to explain the dilemma coaches face once injuries are involved, players might be listed as questionable or doubtful even when they are expected to play. “A lot of them are going to play, some of them are not going to play for certain. But you never compare, because you don’t know how important that guy is on their team, or how important this guy is on our team.”

He added that honesty in reporting is the only way forward, even if it opens the door for second-guessing or backlash. “We’re honest, because, with me, if it’s not right, they’re going to hang us and crucify us,” he said. “But we’re forthright with that. But it’s a testament to having the depth that I’ve always spoken about (at Colorado).”

The issue has become more pressing now that the Big 12, like other Power Four conferences, has adopted daily injury and availability reports ahead of league games. The purpose is partly transparency for media and fans, but Sanders sees a darker undercurrent in that requirement: it fuels betting markets.

Colorado’s recent Week 6 injury report featured 27 names listed ahead of its matchup with TCU, including veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter as probable. Sanders implied the large list is reflective of the program’s commitment to honesty amid a landscape where coaches often feel pressured to tone down or obscure injuries.

For now, Sanders is clear on his stance: he doesn’t relish having to reveal injuries in such detail, but he accepts the obligation and leans on Colorado’s depth to absorb the blow. Whether the practice changes or reforms down the road, his comments make clear he sees it as a necessary evil in today’s college football climate.