Deion Sanders has consistently expressed his love for Boulder, Colorado, and his commitment to the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
However, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum recently suggested that Coach Prime might be coaching at USC next year, a claim that raises eyebrows for several reasons.
On ESPN’s First Take, Finebaum floated the idea of a contingency plan for USC, should they decide to part ways with head coach Lincoln Riley. This speculation is quite a stretch given that Riley signed a 10-year contract with USC in 2022, meaning the university would owe him a substantial amount if they terminated the contract prematurely. Offering a coach a decade-long contract typically implies a commitment to allow enough time for program development and success.
Despite these considerations, Finebaum seemed unbothered by the logistical and financial implications. He suggested that Riley’s tenure at USC might end soon and that Deion Sanders would be an ideal replacement because “Colorado isn’t prime time.” Finebaum elaborated:
“Instead of focusing on Lincoln Riley, I thought about a solution. Maybe Riley does well, maybe he doesn’t. But moving forward, I believe the answer after this season is Deion Sanders. He’s going to be tired of Colorado, because quite frankly, it’s not prime time. He’s done as well as he can with his son and Travis Hunter and all the appearances with Stephen A. and Shannon Sharpe. But that’s going to dry up this year, because they’re not going to be that great. But you put Prime in Tinseltown, and I think you have one of the great combinations in history. I think Deion Sanders as the coach at Southern Cal is the answer to the problems.”
USC’s investment in Lincoln Riley is immense, rumored to be a 10-year deal, and he led the Trojans to an 11-3 record in his first season. Despite a disappointing 8-5 season last year, firing Riley three years into his contract would be financially and strategically unwise, especially given the substantial buyout it would entail.
Finebaum’s recent criticisms of Riley have been harsh. He previously stated, “Had I been the Athletics Director at Southern Cal, I would’ve fired Lincoln Riley because he’s yet to show, after many years as a head coach, that he knows anything about defense. He’s not going to the playoffs and he’s not going to survive Southern California. The Big Ten is going to eat him up. The one thing LA hates is a loser, and right now, I think Lincoln Riley looks like a loser.”
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Interestingly, Finebaum’s opinions on Deion Sanders have fluctuated.
Recently, he referred to Sanders as “a Hollywood created celebrity,” which makes his sudden endorsement of Sanders for the USC job seem contradictory.
While USC’s high expectations and the pressure on Riley are real, the notion of his dismissal three years into a 10-year contract is far-fetched. Additionally, although USC could financially tempt Sanders, Deion has repeatedly emphasized his long-term commitment to Boulder.
In conclusion, while Finebaum’s speculative scenario makes for an interesting discussion, it is laden with logistical, financial, and practical improbabilities.
For now, Deion Sanders appears firmly rooted in Colorado, and Lincoln Riley continues to lead the Trojans, aiming to meet the high expectations set by USC.
