CU Buffs’ Rick George hopes Deion Sanders finishes career at CU

BOULDER — Rick George hopes Deion Sanders ain’t hard to keep.

“We hope that Coach Prime finishes his career here,” the CU Buffs athletic director said at a news conference Tuesday when asked about his football coach, whose squad is off to a 4-1 start. “We think he can do significant things for us long-term with longevity.

“For us, and I think Coach would sit here and tell you (that) we’re on the same page with where we want this program to go.”

Sanders and CU are in the second season of a five-year, $29.5-million contract. Year 3 of that deal features a renegotiation clause in which either side may request changes for things such as salary or benefits.

If Sanders would leave for another job after this season he would owe CU $10 million. That number drops to $8 million after 2025 and $5 million after 2026.

Coach Prime is 8-9 over his first eight games at CU. The Buffs, who finished 4-8 last fall after a 3-0 start, host No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1) on ESPN late Saturday night. All of CU’s tilts this season have been broadcast on national TV.

“I think what he’s done has been incredible,” George said. “I like the culture he’s created, and I see it on a daily basis with his student-athletes and his coaches. There’s a lot to do still moving forward, and we’re on the same page with that.”

Sanders has regularly been floated by national pundits as a candidate for higher-revenue programs in the SEC and ACC — and, more specifically, at the two biggest programs in his home state, Florida and Florida State.

The Seminoles, for whom Coach Prime starred as a collegian, are off to a 1-5 start. The Gators moved to 3-2 last weekend with a 24-13 home win over UCF. Sanders’ Buffs drubbed those same Knights in Orlando two weekends ago, 48-21.