• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Deion Sanders Driving Colorado Merch Sales, Out-Of-State Applications

  • Merchandise sales on Colorado’s online team store are up 1,220% year-over-year from the same period in 2022.
  • Out-of-state applications to the school are up 40%, according to Colorado chancellor Philip DiStefano.
Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks the field during game agains the USC Trojans at Folsom Field.
John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports

The Coach Prime Effect continues to provide a financial windfall for the University of Colorado.

In Deion Sanders’ first season as Colorado’s head football coach, merchandise sales on the school’s online team store increased 1,220% in September 2023 versus September 2022, the university confirmed to Front Office Sports. Year-to-date (January through September), sales are up 51%.

Additionally, out-of-state applications to the school are up 40%, according to Colorado chancellor Philip DiStefano, who calls Sanders’ presence in Boulder “transformational,” per TIME.

TIME also reports that Sanders and his personal team are working on a half-hour comedy about his career with Kevin Hart’s media company.

“People are drawn to hope,” Sanders said. “We’re pulling people in, man, that just want a chance to be seen, to be heard, to be noticed, to be recognized.”

Sanders’ impact on Colorado’s largest university has been immense.

The substantial viewership numbers for the Buffaloes’ games have led to over $45 million in earned media for CU, per Apex Marketing Group. The school has cashed into a 42% year-over-year increase in sponsorship revenue.

Additionally, the high-profile nature of Colorado’s games drove a $14 million increase in ticket revenue over 2022. Celebrities — from Lil Wayne and LeBron James to Matthew McConaughey and Jay-Z — have popped up at Folsom Field.

FOS newsletter co-author David Rumsey contributed reporting for this story.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

SEC Coaches Kiffin, Smart Question LSU’s Firing of Kelly: ‘Ridiculous’ 

Three SEC teams have fired their football coaches midseason.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to an audience at Louisiana Tech University on Aug. 25, 2025.

Why Louisiana’s Governor Was Involved in the Brian Kelly Firing

Jeff Landry reportedly hosted a meeting at the governor’s mansion Sunday.
Brian Kelly

CFB Firings Tracker: LSU Owes Brian Kelly $53 Million

The sum owed Kelly slightly tops James Franklin’s at Penn State. 
Tigers Head Coach Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies. October 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

College Football Coach Buyouts Are Not What They Seem

LSU will likely not have to pay Kelly the $53 million he has left on his contract.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Sankey

SEC’s Sankey Blasts NCAA Plan to Allow Pro Sports Betting

NCAA athletes can bet on professional sports starting Nov. 1.
October 26, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Era’s New Powers: Indiana, Georgia Tech, and Vandy

Indiana is the most notable, having ascended to No. 2.
October 26, 2025

LSU Ends Brian Kelly Era, $53M Buyout Negotiations Underway

The Tigers fell to 5–3 after losing to Texas A&M.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
October 26, 2025

Sarkisian, Kiffin Address Rumors As Coaching Carousel Spins Again

Reports are rampant about the coaches taking new jobs.
Azzi Fudd
October 24, 2025

Government Shutdown Moves UConn Season Opener Out of Germany

The shutdown is now on its 24th day.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates following the game between Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025
exclusive
October 24, 2025

Diego Pavia Is Trying to Kill NCAA JUCO Eligibility Rules for Good

Vandy’s QB is amending his own lawsuit to encompass all NCAA athletes.
Oct 11, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell after losing the game to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.
October 23, 2025

CFB’s Chaotic (and Pricey) Coaching Carousel Only Getting Started

Firings have already accounted for roughly $116 million.