Last month, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders made headlines by revealing that the university had secured unprecedented insurance coverage for Heisman Trophy recipient Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Documents acquired by YSL News Sports now provide more insight into the insurance plans the university arranged before the Buffaloes faced BYU in the Alamo Bowl on December 28, where they lost 36-14. Although the documents redacted the players’ names, YSL News Sports was able to identify them as Hunter and Sanders through various indicators.

The records indicate that the school purchased an additional $1 million in permanent total disability (PTD) insurance specifically for the bowl game, alongside their existing $20 million in PTD coverage for the year that started in August 2024.

“An additional $1MM of temporary coverage effective December 18, 2024, through December 29, 2024, to cover the Valero Alamo Bowl,” stated an email from Matthew Vuckovich of Paradigm Gilbert to Colorado officials. “The current coverage for both players is now at $21,000,000.”

After the bowl game, the coverage amount would revert to $20 million, according to another communication. Fortunately, neither Hunter nor Sanders suffered any major injuries during the game.

Was this a wise decision for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders?

Extra coverage can provide greater reassurance. However, insurance professionals found it unusual to add $1 million in permanent disability coverage for a single game when there was already $20 million in place. The additional million incurred a premium cost of $1,030 each for the university.

Richard Giller, a prominent sports insurance lawyer from Los Angeles, assessed the documents at the request of YSL News Sports.

“It doesn’t really make much sense,” commented Giller from the law firm Greenspoon Marder. “I don’t see the rationale behind it, other than perhaps wanting to claim they had $21 million, which is $1 million more than most other policies?”

Was that truly the highest coverage ever?

Deion Sanders’ statement on December 23, claiming the players had secured the “highest amount of coverage ever in college football,” lacks clarity.

Colorado’s athletic director Rick George was present during this claim and affirmed it, mentioning that the extra coverage was Sanders’ suggestion.

Former Kansas basketball player Eric Chenowith, who founded Leverage Disability and Life Insurance Services, indicated that he was unaware of the basis for Colorado’s claim about the “highest” coverage. However, he mentioned that he has facilitated two policies totaling $26 million for different college football players in 2023.

Colorado chose not to provide further details, citing privacy regulations.

“We stand by what Coach Prime and Rick stated at their Alamo Bowl press conference, which was based on the information available to us at that time,” said Steve Hurlbert, a spokesperson for Colorado athletics.

Attempts to reach Vuckovich went unanswered.

What was the cost of this coverage for Colorado?

The documents reveal that the additional $1 million coverage cost the school a premium of $1,030 each. The premiums for the existing $20 million coverage amounted to roughly $166,000 each, sourced from various companies.

The records also highlighted up to $250,000 in critical injury riders available for the year, covering severe injuries such as an Achilles tendon tear, among others.

Was it worth the risk of injury to participate in the bowl game?

Opinions vary on this. Both Hunter and Shedeur Sanders suggested that competing in their final college games was more significant to them than the financial risks involved.

In contrast, several elite college athletes opted out of bowl games to avoid jeopardizing their financial prospects due to potential injuries. Giller mentioned prior to the bowl game that “there is absolutely NO justification for Hunter to participate in what is effectively a meaningless bowl game, putting his financial future on the line.”

Had they faced career-ending injuries in their last college appearances, they could have sought compensation through the insurance. Still, the payout might be much lower than their potential earnings in the NFL from future contracts and endorsement deals that accompany their future NFL status. Both Hunter and Sanders are anticipated to be top draft picks in April.

Last year, the first overall pick in the draft, quarterback Caleb Williams, signed a four-year contract worth almost $40 million.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer.