Deion Sanders says the transfer portal has settled into a rhythm that works for Colorado, even as his program continues navigating massive roster turnover in the NIL era.
Speaking with reporters during the Buffaloes’ spring availability, Coach Prime offered his thoughts on how the portal and NIL money have changed college football.
“I like the way the portal is right now. I like where we are in that aspect because now we get to keep this team. We don’t have to worry about people disappearing in the summer. Like, this is the team that we’re going to have. Let’s work. Let’s get it together. Let’s dissect it. Now, let’s put people in the proper places so they can excel. I like the way it’s going now.”
The numbers tell the story of Sanders’ tenure in Boulder.
According to 247Sports, Colorado has seen 167 outgoing transfers and 171 incoming transfers since Sanders arrived. That’s essentially turned over the entire roster multiple times.
Sanders understands why players leave. The money available through NIL deals has changed everything.
“You got to understand with all this money floating around for average nowadays, you could have a backup backup. Who backs up? The backup could go away and get a quarter of a million dollars. That don’t make sense to me. But it is what it is.”
He’s not complaining about players getting paid, though.
Sanders said he’s happy student-athletes can finally make money from their talents. He just wants to help them manage it better.
“So, I’m happy that the kids are generating revenue. I just want to find ways for them to keep it and retain it when they’re done with this game.”
But there’s one thing Sanders wishes he could change.
The constant roster turnover still bothers him, even if he’s learned to work with it.
“We don’t like it. We wish we could retain players throughout.”
That tension captures where college football sits right now. Coaches like Sanders have adapted to the new reality, but they haven’t necessarily embraced every part of it.
Colorado’s experience shows both sides of the transfer portal era. Programs can rebuild quickly by adding talent from other schools. But they also risk losing key players to better offers elsewhere.
Sanders has made it work so far. The Buffaloes improved significantly in his second season, though roster stability remains an ongoing challenge.
The comments came during Colorado’s spring media availability, where Sanders discussed various aspects of his program’s development.
