Colorado Could Look At Conference Realignment

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Colorado Football Spring Game
BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team warms up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Is Deion Sanders about to lead Colorado out of the Pac-12?

Conference realignment is the hot thing in college football right now. USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Oklahoma and Texas are making their way to the SEC. Billion-dollar TV deals, NIL prospects, and the shifting parity in competitiveness all now factor into where teams want to play. Each passing year brings with it bigger and bigger moves between conferences.

Meanwhile, Deion Sanders has started a revolution at Colorado. The bombastic Hall of Famer came to the ailing Pac-12 school after three successful seasons at Jackson State. Since arriving in December, Sanders has firmly installed a winner's mentality at Folsom Field. 70 players have transferred out of the program while 34 have transferred in. While the team is yet to be tested across a stacked Pac-12 and wider DI landscape, people are hyped to see what Sanders can do.

Colorado Joins Realignment Speculation

BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes stands with 98-years-old fan Peggy Coppom, who he invited to the field prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

While the official stance from university leadership is that Colorado is committed to the Pac-12, sources are starting to talk. One individual who spoke to The Oklahoman said that Colorado is "ready to commit to joining the Big 12 soon." However, these rumors have been vehemently denied by senior leadership within the athletic department.

However, the Big 12 remains an interesting prospect. The conference is about to lose to Texas and Oklahoma while adding BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, and Houston. The talk comes as USC and UCLA leave the Pac-12 and the conference struggles to secure a new TV deal. Elsewhere, Oregon and Washington are reported to have "spoken informally" with the Big Ten. Despite this, Colorado's success would likely be a sticking point for realignment. The team has won just 16 games in the last five seasons, including 1-11 in the 2022 season. Do you think Colorado will leave the Pac-12? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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About The Author
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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