Deion Sanders wishes Colorado opened with CSU, knows “It’s personal” with Jay Norvell
The 2024 Big 12 schedule was released on Tuesday and Deion Sanders already has some games circled. He appeared on FOX Sports’ Undisputed to breakdown CU’s outlook on their first year back in the Big 12 conference. While he explained not to overlook North Dakota State and Nebraska, the week three matchup definitely piqued his interest.
“Colorado State… I wish we could start off with that one,” Sanders told Skip Bayless and Keyshawn Johnson.
Why not? Last year’s contest ended in a double-overtime thriller well after midnight and was one of the most-watched games. But it was the comments by CSU coach Jay Norvell that gave the Rocky Mountain Showdown an extra storyline with a feud between him and Sanders that became personal.
“When I talk to grown ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That's what my mother taught me. (Colorado's) not going to like us no matter what we say or do,” Norvell said about Sanders.
Coach Prime was reminded by Shedeur Sanders not to put his hands on Norvell as the two shook hands following Colorado’s 43-35 victory. He later denied the comments were directed at Sanders. The game also saw a vicious late hit that was laid out against star two-way player Travis Hunter by CSU safety Henry Blackburn and the aftermath that ensued for Blackburn and then Travis Hunter showing his character by going out bowling with Blackburn to squash all the negativity surrounding the hit. Police said there were over 7,000 threats reported from the incident.
But there is still one more thing that has this game to be circled and it seems like the Norvell’s love to talk trash as Jay Norvell’s wife Kim tweeted that “Shedeur acted like a B— when Jay turned his back after trying to talk to his dad and held up his watch” in a tweet that she later deleted.
This rivalry is bringing back the late 90’s early 2000’s vibes and there is plenty of fuel that has been added to the fire and by next September there for sure will be a couple of more additions. Needless to say, it’s going to be one for the ages as the Buffs make the trip north on Sept. 14. It's also the first time in 28 years the RMS shifts on campus in Fort Collins.
Here are a few of the other games Sanders has his eye on. It all begins with North Dakota State on Saturday, August 31st. The Bison are not a team to sleep on, making it to the FCS semifinals this past season and falling in overtime to the Montana Grizzlies. In total, the Bison have won 17 national championships in their school history, including nine at the FCS level with their last win coming in 2022. NDSU is one of the best at growing its talent and you can look no further than a school that has produced NFL talents like Carson Wentz and Trey Lance. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools and there’s no doubt that North Dakota State will want to show the world what the small FCS school team can do in the opener at Folsom Field.
The Buffs move on to Lincoln for a rivalry game against Nebraska on Sept. 7. This will be a Huskers team that will be looking for revenge against the Buffs. CU has won three in a row against their most-hated rival, including the 36-14 win last year. Shedeur Sanders and the Buffs offense produced 454 yards and the defense forced four turnovers. Nebraska has this game circled in red and with the top signal caller in the nation and highest-rated recruit in Husker history, Dylan Raiola, most likely taking over the reins for Matt Rhule. This will be a must-see on both sides as the Buffs look to make it four in a row against the Huskers.
Colorado comes off a bye week later in the season to face the Kansas State Wildcats. They lost star quarterback Will Howard, who transferred to Ohio State, but that did not phase K-State, who got a win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl over NC State by a score of 28-19. In that game, sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson was named MVP and was also Honorable Mention Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the year. DJ Giddens could be another big-time star next season. On the season he rushed for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also a stud with 151 yards and a touchdown in the bowl game. This will be the first meeting since 2010 between the one-time rivals.
The Buffs make their way to Tucson on October 19th to take on the Arizona Wildcats. One of the three Pac-12 opponents who'll remain on CU’s schedule. Arizona ruined CU’s final home game of the season on a game-winning field goal last year. In that game, the Buffs led most for most of the time, but it was running back Jonah Coleman who was the difference maker. He finished with 11 carries for 179 yards in the Wildcats' victory.
Colorado will make its way to the state of Missouri for a rare meeting with Kansas. The pre-Thanksgiving game will be at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23rd. Last season, the Jayhawks finished the year 9-4 and beat UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl by a score of 49-36. The University of Kansas' leadership team moved all home games away from Lawrence, which is about 50 miles west from Kansas City, while construction on a new stadium continues through next year. The shift adds 29K seats for the game and could become a marquee event at the home of the defending Super Bowl champs, which is an eight-hour drive from Boulder.
Oklahoma State comes to Boulder on Friday, November 29th. This will be the only non-Saturday game on the season for the Buffs and will likely be a primetime television affair. The Cowboys finished out the year at 10-4 and knocked off Texas A&M in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Wideout Brennan Presley is back for OSU and was the go-to target for Alan Bowman. He finished the season with 101 catches for 991 yards. The defense also brings back Redshirt Sophomore Nickolas Martin who had 143 tackles on the season and six sacks. The Cowboys have won three straight against the Buffs, with the last meeting in 2016’s Valero Bowl. However, This will be the first meeting in Boulder since 2008.
The best was saved for last with Colorado heading to Florida to take on UCF in Coach Prime’s home state. There’s no shortage of things to do in the Sunshine State and will be a homecoming for 18 players on the Buffs roster.
With the move to the Big 12, CU will see some old faces and renewed rivalries. All eyes will once again be on the Buffs with the nation tuning in to watch “America’s team” in Sanders’ second season at the helm.
