University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders said during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, that a few players are no longer on the team following a 41-7 loss to Northwestern. Sanders attributed the departures to "conduct detrimental to the team," although the university noted the administrative process for these moves had not yet been finalized.
The coach stated the decision followed a game on Saturday, Sept. 19, in which he saw players laughing and showing "joy in a loss" after the final whistle. Sanders remarked that while he is forgiving, such conduct hinders the program's progress.
During the news conference, safety Ben Finneseth issued a public apology for his role in a viral pregame video in which Colorado players mocked Northwestern’s temporary lakefront stadium, calling the facility "trash." Sanders stated he has "utmost respect" for Northwestern and that the matter was handled internally. Sanders did not publicly identify the specific players removed from the roster.
Sanders also addressed the team's offensive performance, noting they are averaging approximately 9 to 10 points per game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents when excluding a win over Weber State. He also commented on the development of sophomore quarterback Julian Lewis, who threw two interceptions on Saturday. Sanders stated that while Lewis is developing, he "ain't there yet."
The Buffaloes (2-1) open Big 12 conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, against Baylor in Waco, Texas.