Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder Dies at Age 23

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died at the age of 23 on Saturday night. The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.

Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders confirmed the tragic news in a social media post on Sunday.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Sanders wrote. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

Ponder, an Opa Locka, Fla., native, spent the 2023 season with Bethune-Cookman, appearing in two games before taking a redshirt year. He transferred to Colorado in ‘24 and did not appear during his first season in Boulder. He made his collegiate debut in the Buffaloes’ 2025 loss to Arizona. The following week, he played three snaps on the Buffaloes' kickoff team against West Virginia.

The Big 12 offered its condolences to Ponder's family on Sunday evening.

“The Big 12 Conference is deeply saddened by the passing of Colorado football student-athlete Dominiq Ponder,” the conference wrote. “We extend our condolences to the Ponder family and Dominiq’s loved ones. Our thoughts are with the entire CU community during this difficult time.”

One of Ponder's teammates, Colton Allen, on social media posted a heartfelt tribute.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated