BOULDER — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, addressed the media at the team’s weekly Tuesday press conference, tackling rumors, injury updates, and the mindset for this week’s rivalry game against Colorado State.

The press conference began with Coach Sanders dismissing false narratives circulating in the media. A recent report claimed Sanders had instructed the band not to play a particular song, which he categorically denied.

“Whoever reported that, I told the band not to play the fight song, that’s idiotic,” Sanders said. “We got to start having some kind of accountability. Everybody is not a journalist, everybody is not an analyst… These reports affect people.”

Coach Prime expressed his gratitude for the reporters who took their jobs seriously, stating, “I never want to get personal, but if we wanted to go there, we could. But we weren’t raised like that.”

When asked about his message to the team heading into the Colorado State game, Sanders emphasized the importance of accountability and urgency.

“I challenge them—if the person you love the most was depending on your performance at practice today, how would you go about it?” Sanders explained. “That was the challenge today.”

After a loss to Nebraska, Sanders and the team are focused on improving, especially when it comes to starting games stronger. While the defense made second-half adjustments, Sanders knows his team needs to be ready from the opening snap against Colorado State.

The Buffaloes’ offensive line faced challenges last week, particularly in pass protection. Sanders acknowledged the need to shake things up and instill confidence in the offensive line.

“You may see us shake something up a little bit,” Sanders hinted, while praising his coaching staff. “Pat (offensive line coach) does a tremendous job in calling plays as he did the first game. But when you lose, you’re going to be ridiculed and prosecuted.”

One of the focal points of the press conference was the lack of a strong running game. Sanders reiterated the need for a more aggressive rushing attack to alleviate pressure on quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

“It’s an attitude. We’ve committed to it on certain plays, but we’ve got to do a better job of running the football. That takes a lot of pressure off your quarterback,” Sanders said.

Coach Prime provided updates on key injured players, including safety Cam Silmon-Craig and cornerback Travis Hunter. While Travis Hunter continues to be a force on the field, Sanders admitted that Silmon-Craig’s return remains uncertain.

“We’re praying for him to make it back, but I like to see one good day of practice before putting those guys out there,” Sanders remarked. He added that wide receiver Isaiah Haj might not play this week.

As the Buffs prepare for their next challenge, Sanders acknowledged the significance of the rivalry with Colorado State but remained grounded, emphasizing that every game is important.

“These rivalry games are important, but every game is a huge game for us. Every week is a huge game,” Sanders noted.

With back-to-back emotionally charged games, the Buffs are eager to respond and prove their readiness.

“We’ve got to be ready to play from the first snap. You’ve got to be ready in all phases, coaching included,” Sanders emphasized.

Heading into Saturday’s game against Colorado State, Coach Prime is trying to have his team focused on correcting mistakes, preparing for a tough opponent, and tuning out external noise. With an eye on improvement and a commitment to accountability. Will the Buffaloes be ready when they take the field against the Rams?

KICKOFF: 5:30pm Canvas Stadium – Fort Collins, CO (CBS)