‘WTF Was That?’ — Deion Sanders Under Fire For Controversial Mistake Late in Colorado’s Season-Opening Loss

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Two timeouts left. Eight seconds on the clock. Sixty-one yards from the end zone. For Deion Sanders, this was supposed to be the moment that proved Colorado could win without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Instead, it became the play call with college football, questioning everything about his coaching.

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How Did Colorado Let Victory Slip Away Against Georgia Tech?

Colorado started the season playing host to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in what many saw as a crucial test for Sanders entering his third year without his two former superstars. Hunter, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner who shone as both a defensive back and wide receiver, was the second-overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile, Sanders’ son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, will be suiting up for the Cleveland Browns on Sundays this year.

The Buffaloes got off to a promising start, forcing turnovers on each of the Yellow Jackets’ first three possessions and taking an early 7-0 lead. However, the Jackets seemed to take control of the game on the ground. Colorado wouldn’t go away and ultimately tied the game at 20 with just 8:25 to play on a Kaidon Salter touchdown run.

Georgia Tech answered when Haynes King broke away for a 45-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, giving the Jackets a 27-20 lead with just 1:07 to play. That’s when Colorado’s final drive began, and Sanders’ clock management became the story.

Following the kickoff, Colorado took over on their own 25-yard line. Salter completed a pass to Michael Walker that lost two yards, and the Buffaloes did not use a timeout. After an 11-yard completion to Hykeem Williams that left them a yard short of a first down, Colorado again decided against using a timeout, bringing the clock down to 18 seconds.

Salter picked up the first down on the ground, gaining five yards and reaching the 39-yard line, but it left the Buffaloes with just eight seconds left and 61 yards to go. Two desperate heaves by Salter on the final two plays fell incomplete.

Why Did Deion Sanders Defend His Timeout Decision?

Following the game, Sanders defended Colorado’s decision-making in the final moments.

“I think we got out of bounds a couple of times, so we didn’t have to take them,” Sanders said when asked about leaving two timeouts on the board.

Sanders explained he didn’t believe they needed to use a timeout despite being tackled short of a first down on the first play of their final drive, allowing the clock to run. The internet roasted him for it.

“Wtf was that?” One fan asked. “Colorado had two timeouts and Deion chose not to use one of them.”

“At least Deion can call those timeouts tonight on his drive home,” Barstool’s Jack McGuire joked.

“Deion not calling a timeout is preposterous,” another fan proclaimed.

“Deion Sanders still doesn’t understand basic clock management,” a fan wrote, including a GIF of Sanders. “Incredible.”

The criticism kept coming. Fans continued to question Sanders’ decision: “Does Deion Sanders think timeouts roll over to next week’s game???”

Others took their frustration even further. Fans questioned if this put any other coach on the hot seat.

“If he wasn’t deion sanders, every booster would be knocking on the Colorado’s AD home door to have him fired. Absolutely delusional take from a HC after that disaster time management”

Another fan took it to the next level, tweeting “Deion Sanders is the worst coach in the country, and it is not particularly close.”

Another used a famous Nick Saban soundbite to sum things up.

“‘Coach Sanders, you have two timeouts, do you want to use one to stop the clock and give your team a better chance to win?’ Deion:”

Sanders and the Buffaloes will look to rebound when they take on Delaware next Saturday. However, it’s going to be a rough week thinking about what could have been.

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