The Colorado Buffaloes football program, led by head coach Deion Sanders, improved to 7-2 on the year with a win over Texas Tech on Saturday. However, the victory was not without its share of drama, as a heated on-field incident involving Deion Sanders Jr. overshadowed some of the post-game celebration.
The incident occurred late in the game, with less than a minute left on the clock. Colorado safety Shilo Sanders picked up a fumble at the Texas Tech 5-yard line and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown, sealing Colorado’s 38-17 victory.
After the score, Shilo celebrated in the end zone with his teammates. However, things took a turn when one of Texas Tech’s ball boys approached the players, asking for his team’s football back.
Unlike the National Football League, where a standard football is used throughout the game, college football teams play with their own designated footballs.
As such, after a turnover or a change in possession, it falls on the ball boys to retrieve their team’s ball. In this case, the Texas Tech ball boy attempted to get the football back from Shilo Sanders, who was still in the midst of celebrating his defensive touchdown.
The ball boy’s effort to grab the football from Shilo Sanders did not go smoothly. Tensions flared as Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders intervened, getting in the face of the ball boy as he attempted to retrieve the football. The confrontation escalated, and things got a little physical, as Shedeur appeared to prevent the ball boy from taking the ball.
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At this point, Deion Sanders Jr., who oversees Colorado’s social media and video efforts, got involved in the altercation. Deion Sanders Jr. joined the fray, appearing to threaten the ball boy in an attempt to defend his brother and the Colorado players as they continued to celebrate their touchdown.
The situation quickly drew attention, and video of the confrontation soon began circulating online.
A video clip of the incident was shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by College Sports Only on Sunday. The post humorously captioned the video, saying, “Texas Tech’s ball boy was ready to take on the entire Sanders family by himself.” The footage showed the ball boy standing his ground despite being surrounded by Colorado players, a scene that added to the drama of the moment.
The ball boy, to his credit, remained firm and did not back down in the face of the confrontation, although it was clear that he was in a tense and uncomfortable situation.
In hindsight, it might have been best for him to let Colorado’s players have their moment of celebration before attempting to retrieve the football.
The heated exchange between the ball boy and multiple members of the Sanders family added an unexpected layer of tension to what should have been a celebratory moment for Colorado.
With their victory over Texas Tech, Colorado improved to 7-2 on the season and is now ranked No. 20 in the country. The Buffaloes have been one of the most talked-about teams in college football this season under Deion Sanders’ leadership. The win over Texas Tech keeps Colorado firmly in the conversation for the College Football Playoff as they head into the final stretch of the year.
Colorado’s remaining schedule includes games against Utah, Kansas, and Oklahoma State—three challenging matchups that will determine whether the Buffaloes can continue their quest for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Despite the incident involving Deion Sanders Jr., the focus for the Buffaloes remains on winning football games and finishing the season strong.
The altercation with the Texas Tech ball boy was certainly an unwelcome distraction, but it also served as a reminder of the intensity that surrounds this Colorado team.
With Deion Sanders at the helm and his sons playing prominent roles on the field, the Buffaloes have generated a tremendous amount of media attention and scrutiny.
As they continue their pursuit of a potential playoff spot, all eyes will remain on Colorado—both for their performance on the field and for any additional off-field drama that might come their way.
