What Deion Sanders Said About Returning To Dallas, Big 12 Championship Game

During a recent walk-and-talk interview inside Folsom Field, Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders caught up with long-time friend and former teammate, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin.

The two spoke about "Coach Prime's" return to Boulder, the plans Sanders has for the future of Folsom Field, and shared plenty of laughs and memories.

Feb 5, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Deion Sanders (left) and Michael Irvin at the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement show at the Super Bowl XLV media center at the International Conference and Exposition Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A Shot at the College Football Playoff?

Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

But amid the lighthearted interview, Irvin posed a question that should intrigue Buffs fans everywhere.

“Do you predict any chance of getting in those playoffs for Colorado?” Irvin asked, referring to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).

Sanders responded as confidently as you might expect, “There’s a possibility. There’s a lot of good teams,” he said. “A lot of good teams are neck and neck. It may be a two-loss team that gets to the championship in our conference.”

Sanders’ answer wasn't just confident—it was realistic.

With the expansion of CFP, and given how things shook out last season in the Power Four, some teams with two losses may still find themselves in the playoff conversation if they’re in the right conference. And the Big 12, as Sanders pointed out, might just be that kind of battleground.

Eyes on Dallas

Oct 26, 1997; Philadelphia, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders (21) walks off the field during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK | Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images

But Coach Prime’s ambitions for the season extend beyond just winning games.

"The reason I want to win it—I want to play in Dallas," Sanders said.

This season, the Big 12 Conference Championship will be held at AT&T Stadium, and for Sanders, the trip to Dallas wouldn’t just mean a shot at a national title—it would also be a homecoming that many fans and analysts have rumored about since Sanders arrived in Boulder.

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Though "Coach Prime" has remained vocal about his commitment to Colorado despite recurring NFL rumors, he couldn’t help but tease the idea of what coaching at the pro level might feel like. "I want to go and coach there on that sideline," Sanders said with a mischievous grin. "I wanna see how that feels.”

The two old friends immediately burst into laughter, recognizing the sly implication behind Sanders’ words. “I wasn’t gonna bother that,” Irvin said, laughing and leaning on Sanders.

Sanders laughed along, saying, “I just wanna see how it feels. I ain't saying I like it. I just wanna see how it feels, that’s all.”

Familiar Territory

Sep 11, 1997; Irving, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO: Dallas Cowboys defensive back Deion Sanders (21) celebrating as he scores a touchdown on an interception against the Chicago Bears at Texas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James D. Smith-Imagn Images | James D. Smith-Imagn Images

The Cowboys' home field has been the site of countless memories for Sanders and Irvin, who played five seasons in Dallas and helped the franchise win Super Bowl XXX in 1995.

Now, nearly 30 years later, the idea of coaching a conference championship game at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium has lit a new kind of fire under "Coach Prime."

However, the path to Dallas won’t be easy.

The Big 12 is deep, and programs like Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Utah will all have playoff ambitions of their own.

But if the Buffaloes can secure a few key road wins and survive the chaos that defines most college football Novembers, the door could be wide open for Sanders to get his chance to step back onto the field in Dallas.