Kansas football coach Lance Leipold just dropped a take on Deion Sanders that might surprise a lot of people who only see the headlines. Straight out of the Big 12 Conference media days in Frisco, Texas this July, Leipold painted a picture of Coach Prime that goes way beyond the charisma everyone talks about, revealing a fundamentally disciplined approach that’s pretty unexpected.
Leipold’s Surprising Praise for Coach Prime
Forget the flashy persona you think you know, because Leipold’s experience with Sanders tells a different story entirely. He says when Sanders speaks up in coaches’ meetings, it’s “very fundamentally disciplined and sound.” How about that? Leipold noted that Sanders has a “very disciplined way of approach,” which sounds a lot less ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ and a lot more ‘hard work and fundamentals.’ He wasn’t just being polite, either. Leipold was clear, stating that Sanders “doesn’t seek attention,” is “very humble in his meetings,” and is “not a grandstander.” That’s a huge contrast to the public image, isn’t it? Leipold even wrapped it up by saying he has “a lot of respect for him and what he’s done and really enjoy being around him.” These two coaches have only faced off once, back in 2024, when Leipold’s Kansas squad took down Colorado 37-21 in Kansas City, Missouri. They didn’t play in 2025 and aren’t slated to meet during the 2026 regular season, so these media days are a rare chance to hear their insights on each other.
Colorado’s Rollercoaster and Kansas’s Path Forward
Sanders’ arrival definitely brought “attention to this league and excitement,” as Leipold pointed out. After a 4-8 debut season in 2023 before Colorado joined the Big 12, Sanders’ team exploded for a 9-4 record in 2024, their first year in the conference. That was a serious jump! But then, 2025 saw a dip to 3-9. Now, looking ahead to 2026, the USA TODAY Network preseason media poll predicted Colorado to finish 15th out of the 16 teams in the Big 12. It’s a real rollercoaster for the Buffaloes, and it’s clear Coach Prime has work to do. Kansas isn’t exactly cruising, either. After back-to-back bowl games in 2022 and 2023, the Jayhawks finished 5-7 in both 2024 and 2025. They were picked 12th in that same preseason poll for 2026. Leipold is confident his team can turn things around this season, but it’s a tough road in the Big 12.
So, as we head into the 2026 season, everyone will be watching how these two teams navigate the Big 12. Colorado, with its “disciplined” but “humble” leader, has to figure out how to rebound from last year’s struggles, while Kansas is trying to get back to bowl eligibility. It’s going to be interesting to see if Sanders’ quiet, fundamental approach can lead the Buffaloes higher than that 15th-place prediction.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply