"In the trenches I knew" - Colorado HC Deion Sanders reveals thought process after getting 'butt kicked' by Oregon in 2023 

Deion Sanders' Colorado had a triumphant start to the 2023 college football season as they bagged victories against TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State. However, their winning streak took a hit when Dan Lanning's Oregon beat the Buffaloes with a devastating 42-6 scoreline.

The game was also memorable owing to Dan Lanning's intense 'Cinderella Story' speech ahead of the showdown.

Following the game against Oregon, Sanders found himself on a slippery slope as Colorado faced seven more losses and just one win from that point forward.

In a conversation with Joel Klatt, Deion Sanders opened up about his thought process during the press conference after the loss:

"I'm not gonna blow smoke to you. After we get our butts kicked in Oregon game, I said you got to give me now. You better give me that because I knew we didn't have what we needed to play at that level of consistency.

"We didn't have what we needed to play at certain levels against certain teams. We didn't have everything in house. Although we may have believed that we could compete with him, in the trenches, I knew, I knew [we couldn't]." Sanders continues. (6:30)

Deion Sanders responds to Dan Lanning's pregame comments in 2023

Dan Lanning led the Oregon crew to an impressive 12-2 record in the 2023 season. Similar to Deion Sanders' Colorado, the Ducks were also coming off a winning streak.

Lanning was captured giving a fiery speech ahead of the game, where he made the 'Cinderella story' comments about the Buffaloes. He accused them of playing for clicks and not wins.

Nine months after the matchup, in an interview on the Full Send Podcast, Sanders took a shot back at Lanning for his comments in the 2023 college football season:

“Did you hear any other speech that he made during the whole season? Who is playing for the click? This is what I really do. In high school, you can date it back on YouTube or whatever, this is what I do with my team, this is who we are. It’s not playing for something or playing for a click, why would I need exposure?” (23:10)

Coach Prime will have another opportunity with the Buffaloes to make a mark in college football. Winning more than four games is the least one can hope for from a high-profile side like them.