Deion Sanders has some impressive luggage.

He referred to it as Louis Vuitton and it rolls with style.

The talented players he brought from Jackson State to Colorado, like Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, have shown they can thrive anywhere. They’ve helped Coach Prime answer the question of whether he can achieve success at this level.

He has proven he can, and he already has.

“I’m incredibly excited,” Sanders said following his team’s 48-21 win against Central Florida, placing Colorado at the top of the Big 12 standings. “You have no idea.”

Now, here’s the next crucial question: Can he maintain this success at Colorado? Does he even want to?

Sanders seems to act more like he intends to keep living out of a suitcase rather than settling down.

Yes, I know he has stated his intention to coach at Colorado for at least ten years and that he is not interested in an NFL role. He once claimed that God called him to coach Jackson State and vowed to “transform HBCU football” on “60 Minutes.” He made an impact, albeit briefly, until another opportunity came along with Colorado. He packed up his luggage and took off.

And I can’t fault Sanders for taking a better opportunity with a larger paycheck, but actions often speak louder than words.

Sanders’ actions suggest he might be looking for an exit.

Take a look at Colorado’s recruiting efforts. They are currently the weakest in the Big 12 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, with only eight recruits committed. It appears he’s not fully invested in recruitment, perhaps indicating he’s not planning for the long haul.

After all, Sanders has a lot to offer if he were motivated to recruit. His record stands at 8-9 at Colorado, 4-1 this season alone.

If you don’t consider that an achievement, you’ve forgotten how poorly this program was performing before his arrival. In 2022, Colorado was among the worst teams in the Bowl Subdivision. They brought in Sanders to revitalize the program, and he’s done just that.

This makes the struggles in recruiting particularly surprising. Given his success, he surely shouldn’t have difficulty selling his vision to high school players.

Sanders has relied heavily on the transfer portal over the past two seasons, with results exceeding expectations.

Having a standout quarterback like Shedeur, who can both pass and run, is a significant advantage, bringing added flair to the team.

To his credit, he has also strengthened the defense.

But the pressing question is, how long can this be maintained?

Shedeur and Hunter are likely heading to the NFL after this season. Finding transfers of their caliber is rare. Another of Sanders’ sons, Shilo, is in his sixth year as a senior safety. What’s to keep Prime from following his boys to the NFL?

The portal can be a lifesaver for a team in need, and any coach ignoring it would be foolish. However, building a team primarily through transfers is a precarious endeavor; one mistake can have serious consequences.

Attracting and developing top-notch linemen is crucial for championship teams, and Sanders is well aware of this fact. He is far from foolish.

I don’t believe it’s that Sanders lacks the ability to recruit. Rather, it seems he may not have the willingness to do so, questioning why he would invest in a place where he might not stay.

If Sanders receives another opportunity after this season, Colorado would have gotten the full Coach Prime experience.

He brought attention to a program that desperately needed it and helped ensure Colorado remained relevant in realignment discussions. It’s no surprise that applications surged after his first season. He shone a spotlight on the university and made Colorado football enjoyable, which resonates well with college students.

When he eventually packs his luggage again and listens for another voice, Colorado would be wise to seek the next Sanders. Yet, finding a replacement for Coach Prime will be challenging, as he is one-of-a-kind.

Here’s what else is happening in the world of college football:

Did Ole Miss suffer due to an easy schedule?

It’s tempting to criticize Mississippi’s weak schedule over the first four weeks as a reason for their surprising 20-17 defeat against Kentucky, but that soft start isn’t to blame for this loss.

Ohio State began their season with a few easy opponents before defeating Michigan State in their first conference match.

Opening against Furman wasn’t the main issue for Ole Miss; the real problem was Lane Kiffin’s reliance on the transfer portal strategy while neglecting offensive line development.

Kentucky physically dominated Ole Miss. If the Rebels had faced stronger opponents early on, they might be looking at two losses instead of just one.

Emails of the week

Gary writes:

You’ve hit the nail on the head when you said Hugh Freeze is no longer the quarterback whisperer. During the Oklahoma game, he should have instructed Payton Thorne to run the ball and plan for a punt instead. Thorne’s choice to throw the ball, resulting in a pick-six, reflects the impact of coaching. As a coach, you must take control and prioritize running the ball.

My response: I completely agree. Auburn should have opted for the ground game.

In the situation you mentioned: Auburn was ahead 21-16 with under five minutes to go and had a third-and-4 at Oklahoma’s 43-yard line. A running play could have led to one of three outcomes: a first down, a fourth-and-short situation to attempt, or a stuff that would force a punt to pin Oklahoma deep in their territory. The one scenario that wouldn’t occur is a turnover from a quarterback throwing a pick-six.

But Freeze claims he executed one of his finest game plans in that loss. If that’s truly his best, Auburn needs to consider finding a new coach.

Burt writes: Did we view the same game? Alabama surged to a big halftime lead. Georgia battled back to take the lead late in the game, while Alabama’s offense completely faltered. Alabama was fortunate to score on a deep throw to clinch the victory, as their quarterback was ineffective in the second half except for one play.

My response: We saw the same game, but you might have overlooked Jalen Milroe bulldozing through Georgia for a total of 491 yards. If Milroe had truly been as ‘ineffective’ as you claim, he could’ve approached 800 yards.

Three and Out

1. If Missouri secures a win on Saturday against Texas A&M, I’ll take them seriously as playoff contenders, while online searches for Eliah Drinkwitz in Gainesville, Florida, could surge. He has a record of 15-2 over the last two seasons at Missouri and even sports a visor reminiscent of Steve Spurrier.

2. I can already imagine it: come early December, if Georgia stands at 9-3, having lost to Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will be quoting “Sesame Street” once again.

3. If you’re curious about why Chip Kelly transitioned from being the head coach at UCLA to becoming the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, he recently shared some insights on the advantages of being an assistant: “You can take a restroom break between series if necessary.” For context, look at UCLA’s current 1-3 record this season. Kelly chose to step down after leaving a program that’s in disarray.