'I'm Not Getting It Done': Deion Keeps Marion, Praises Lampron and Says Houston's Weigman Is One of the Best QBs in the Country

By Cam Sutton, RF Sports Radio Colorado voice

Buffs fans, Deion Sanders stood at the podium on Tuesday and took the whole thing on his own shoulders. He is not firing his offensive coordinator, he is not blaming his players, and he knows a ranked Houston team is coming to Boulder on a short week.

The facts

Per Buffaloes Wire, Sanders answered "no" when asked if he would replace offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Colorado is averaging 19.8 points a game, last in the Big 12 and tied for 123rd of 138 teams. "The kids are fighting. We're just not getting it done, I'm not getting it done. Don't say we," Sanders said, per Buffaloes Wire. He called Houston quarterback Conner Weigman "one of the best quarterbacks in the country," and said Colorado has "matchups we like, but we have to have a balanced attack."

Per Colorado Athletics, linebacker Gideon Lampron was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week after 18 tackles and two sacks at Arizona State. Sanders said Colorado has allowed five rushing touchdowns in nine games, the program's fewest at this point of a season in 60 years, and that he expects at least one injured player back Friday. Joseph Williams had 121 receiving yards in Tempe, his fourth 100-yard game. "I'm a now guy," Sanders said. "Let's focus on the now."

Houston (7-2) is No. 14 in the second College Football Playoff rankings, the highest CFP ranking in program history, per the CFP release. Kickoff at Folsom Field is Friday at 8:15 p.m. MT, which is 9:15 p.m. CT, on ESPN. Colorado (3-6) closes at Cincinnati on Nov. 21 and at home against UCF on Nov. 28.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: keeping Marion through the season is the right call. Changing play-callers in November with three games left does not fix an offensive line, and it tells the locker room the season is over. Sanders already changed play-callers last year, per Buffaloes Wire, and it did not solve anything.

The Lampron story is the bright spot, and it deserves more airtime. Eighteen tackles is a full game of work. The defense is good enough to keep Colorado in Friday's game. The offense has to score 24.

Weigman is the problem. A dual-threat quarterback on a short week is the hardest prep in football, and Colorado has to keep him in the pocket.

Prediction: Houston 27, Colorado 21. Closer than people think, but the Buffs run out of time.

What to watch next

Watch Thursday's injury news for who returns, Colorado's penalty count against its goal of five or fewer, and Weigman's legs. For our look at Sanders after Tempe, read our Nov. 10 look at Sanders after Tempe, and follow the Buffs on our Colorado Football page.

Radio question: is Sanders right to stick with Brennan Marion, or does the offense need a new voice now?

Sources: Buffaloes Wire / USA Today - Deion Sanders press conference takeaways; Colorado Athletics - Coach Prime, Buffs keep their focus on Friday night; College Football Playoff - Second rankings of 2026; Sports Illustrated - Deion Sanders on Houston QB Conner Weigman.