'I’m Here': Colorado Buffaloes Coach Deion Sanders Responds to Texas A&M Aggies Job Rumors

Deion Sanders is not interested in the Texas A&M opening as the Buffaloes prepare for their final two games.

Deion Sanders won't be coming to College Station as Texas A&M's next head coach.

At least for the time being.  

When asked about the current Aggies' opening, the first-year Colorado coach downplayed interest in making the jump to the SEC, stating his sights were set on winning this Friday on the road against Washington State. 

The Buffaloes (4-6) must win their final two games to become bowl-eligible.

“Man, I want to win,” Sanders said. “I want to win a game. So you think I really do sit down and think about that kind of stuff? Like what strikes me about that, about myself, that you guys really think I sit down and say, `Oh, yeah, Stephen A. [Smith], yeah.’ C’mon, c’mon. I’m good. Like, we gotta win. Let’s focus on this week.”

Sanders, 56, has always been at the peak of stardom thanks to his NFL Hall of Fame career, but he continues to blossom into one of college football's biggest names. He captured the nation’s attention by starting 3-0 at Colorado with wins over national champion runner-up TCU and Nebraska. 

Since their win over Colorado State, the Buffs have lost six of their last seven games. They also are the most penalized team in the country with 95, including 11 in last week's 34-31 loss to Arizona. 

There's intrigue with the turnaround in Boulder — and yes, despite potentially another losing season at hand, there has been promise. The Buffaloes finished 1-11 last year and won eight games in three seasons under former UCLA coach Karl Dorell. Colorado features one of the nation's top passing attacks, led by Sanders' son, Shedur. 

Sanders said he doesn't get asked on recruiting visits if he'll be sticking around the future Big 12 program, but did mention he would affirm recruits on his intentions of remaining for the foreseeable future. 

“I tell them what I told them when I came: I’m here, I’m here,” Sanders said. “I tell 'em my mother’s here. My sister’s here. My dog is here. My daughter’s here. Three of my sons are here. My other daughter comes to darn near every home game. We’re here. I get mail here. I pay taxes here.

"I’m too honest with parents. I’m gonna tell ‘em the truth.”

A&M, which fired Jimbo Fisher before the end of his sixth season, is currently 6-4 and looking for a viable candidate to turn the program around in the SEC's future. Fisher, who finished 45-25, will be paid over $76 million, including $19.2 million within 60 days, through the 2031 season. 

If Sanders were A&M's top choice, the buyout to acquire him would be managble. If Sanders were to leave Colorado before Dec. 31, his new program would owe the school $15 million in the buyout. That number drops to $10 million beginning in 2024. 

A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said he hopes to have Fisher's replacement on campus by next month, though that could change depending on the candidate. The early transfer portal window opens on Dec. 4, while Early Signing Period is on Dec. 20. 

"The ingredients for a championship are here," Bjork said Sunday evening. "Aggies want to do it the right way and deserve excellence in everything that we do. ... Onward we go."

Deion Sanders prepares for a game with the Buffaloes / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Sanders could also take his name off the table due to his son's eligibility. Shedur and Shiloh Sanders both have another year of eligibility but would have to sit out next season if they were to transfer from Colorado after using their one-time transfer from Jackson State. 

Shiloh Sanders also played football at South Carolina before joining his father at Jackson State. 

Sanders noted how many players are eligible to return for Colorado in 2024. Colorado remains a hotbed in the transfer portal and could add the necessary talents on both sides of the line to compete for a Big 12 title next season.

"There's a lot of people that don't, and think that we're just losing," Sanders said. "No, no, you've got to find a win in the midst of a loss."

Other names being considered for the A&M opening include Oregon's Dan Lanning, UTSA's Jeff Traylor, Duke's Mike Elko, Kansas' Lance Leipold, Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, Kansas State's Chris Klieman and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, among others. 

The Aggies return to Kyle Field for their home finale against Abilene Christian this Saturday at 11 a.m. They'll close out the regular season next weekend in Baton Rouge against No. 15 LSU at 11 a.m. 

Defensive line coach Elijah Robinson will serve as the interim head coach for A&M's final two regular season games and the bowl game.