Deion Sanders faces $10 million salary test against 2-point favorite

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders prepares to host Kansas State on Saturday as a betting underdog. The Colorado Buffaloes are listed as a two-point underdog against the Kansas State Wildcats, a line that signals a lack of confidence in the program's current trajectory.

Sanders draws a salary of $10 million for the current season. His counterpart in Manhattan, Kansas, Collin Klein, earns $4.1 million. Klein is in his first season as a head coach. Despite Sanders' higher pay, oddsmakers favor the Wildcats, suggesting the market values Klein's staff more than Sanders' at this moment.

The Buffaloes are riding a five-game losing streak. Their overall record over the last 20 games is 5-15. Since December 2024, the team is 2-15 against Power Four conference opponents. The current slump has placed the program in a precarious position as the season enters its final stretch.

Kansas State faces its own personnel issues. Starting quarterback Avery Johnson is out. Backup Jacob Knuth is doubtful due to an ankle injury. The Wildcats may turn to Blake Barnett or Dillon Duff, who have limited playing time. This scenario mirrors a chaotic game for Colorado against the Saints, where running back Phillip Lindsay and receiver Kendall Hinton took snaps at quarterback.

If Colorado loses to an undermanned Kansas State team, the pressure on Sanders will intensify. A loss would leave the Buffaloes needing to win their remaining games to secure a bowl berth. The schedule offers few other opportunities for a win of this magnitude.

The financial implications of a potential coaching change are stark. Sanders has a $26 million buyout clause. A new hire would likely command a salary around $4 million per season. The gap between Sanders' current pay and the cost of replacement creates a financial hurdle for the administration.

In 2018, Mike MacIntyre was fired after a 31-7 home loss to Washington State. That defeat followed a loss to Utah and cemented doubts about his status. MacIntyre brought a framed picture of a buffalo in a snowstorm to a press conference before his departure. His successors Mel Tucker and Karl Dorrell had less administrative support than Sanders has received.

The question now is whether a roster turnover will bring discipline to the Buffaloes. There is limited evidence to support that change will occur. If a well-paid coach cannot secure a win over a team using its third or fourth-string quarterback, the rationale for continuing the current path becomes difficult to defend.