Paul Finebaum Casts Doubt on Deion Sanders After Exits of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 10:36 AM ET

ESPN's Paul Finebaum is no stranger to speaking his mind about college football coaches, and he's once again casting fresh doubt toward Colorado's Deion Sanders as the Buffaloes face the departures of their two biggest stars, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

Last season, Finebaum openly questioned Sanders' ability to transform the Colorado program rapidly, initially expressing skepticism about the team's potential. Yet as the Buffaloes began turning heads with strong performances, Finebaum publicly acknowledged Deion's remarkable impact. Now, with Shedeur Sanders and Hunter moving on, Finebaum's newest critique centers on whether Sanders can sustain success without elite-level talent.

"I don't think Deion really has anything left to prove," Finebaum stated on ESPN's "Get Up," adding context to his current stance. "They may not have made the playoffs, which was unrealistic in some respects last year, but they proved that they are a very high-quality team. Something I frankly didn't think was possible when Deion got there in this short a period of time."

However, Finebaum points out that maintaining success is an entirely different challenge.

"I just think he needs to show some consistency and get this program, as he said, more of a collective unit because the two stars are gone," Finebaum remarked, injecting some doubt into his outlook.

The critical point, according to Finebaum, hinges on Sanders' coaching acumen moving forward: "Can he coach good players as opposed to exceptional players, one of whom was his son? That's the question."

Looking ahead to Colorado’s upcoming 2025 season, the program stands at a crossroads. Without Shedeur Sanders at quarterback and Hunter, who excelled as both a defensive back and wide receiver, the Buffaloes will need significant contributions from their returning talent and incoming recruits. Despite these losses, Colorado's transfer portal momentum, which saw the school add 33 players to its 2025 class, driven by Sanders' dynamic personality and proven track record, suggests the Buffaloes should remain competitive in the Big 12.

Realistically, fans can expect Colorado to continue improving fundamentally, even if the immediate future may not include playoff appearances. Sanders' larger-than-life presence will continue to attract talented recruits, though replicating last season's breakthrough performance may prove challenging without his son and Hunter leading the charge.

Ultimately, the 2025 season offers Sanders an opportunity to silence critics like Finebaum once again, demonstrating that his coaching abilities extend beyond just managing superstar talent.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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