Colorado HC Deion Sanders picks 7x national champ Nick Saban as his perfect coaching role model: "He's the magna cum laude"

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders picked seven-time national champion Nick Saban as his coaching role model. Saban is considered to be the greatest college coach of all time.

Saban retired as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide following their loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl in 2024.

With Saban retired, Sanders heaped praise on him and said every coach strives to be as good as he was.

"First of all, let's just get this straight. He's the Magna cum laude. He is it, he is what we attained to just get next to it, never eclipse whatsoever," Sanders said on The Joel Klatt Show.

Saban went 201-29 all-time as the head coach of the Crimson Tide and helped the school to six national championships. He also won a national title with LSU before going to Alabama.

Saban finished his college coaching career with a record of 292-71-1. He is also a five-time SEC Coach of the Year.

Deion Sanders says 'protecting' Shedeur Sanders is key for Colorado

Deion Sanders reveals biggest key for Colorado in 2024 (Imagn)

Deion Sanders is entering his second season as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sanders was the talk of college football last season, as the Buffaloes started the year going 3-0, with upset wins over TCU and Nebraska. However, the team struggled down the stretch going 1-8 to finish the year with a 4-8 record.

Despite the poor end to the season, Sanders has confidence going into 2024, as he feels like the offensive line is much improved. Sanders said protecting Shedeur Sanders was a key offseason goal.

“I feel like we addressed the needs and tremendous concern. He’s my son… protecting the quarterback during the game is where it begins... I just have better rhythm, a better feel… I think we got better, man," Sanders added on The Joel Klatt Show.

The Buffaloes return to the Big 12 in 2024 and have notable games against Nebraska, Kansas State, Arizona, Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Colorado will open its 2024 college football season at home on Aug. 29 against North Dakota State before going on the road to play Nebraska in Week 2.