“It was a loser mindset”: Colorado star Shedeur Sanders emphasizes his family’s impact on the Buffs as his college journey reaches its end

Shedeur Sanders arrived in Boulder in 2023 after his father, Deion Sanders, took the Colorado job. The Buffaloes finished the previous season with a 1-11 record and had not won more than five games since 2016. However, Shedeur contributed to transforming the program.

On Wednesday on his “2Legendary with Shedeur Sanders” podcast, the quarterback discussed how his family transformed Colorado into a notable program in college football after years of struggle.

"I would say having the mountains in the background and having the fans being there, knowing that we changed the culture, knowing it was a bad mindset, losing mindset two years ago," Shedeur said.

"Shortly, we were able to come in and change everything…especially the way we did it, against all the odds. Against all the naysayers and people talking recklessly about us for no reason. We were still able to go out there, put on a performance and change the narrative."

With his years of eligibility exhausted, Shedeur Sanders will enter the 2025 NFL draft, marking a transition to the next level for him. The quarterback is projected as one of the top picks in the draft.

Shedeur Sanders to play in Colorado's bowl game

While he has played his final regular season game for Colorado, Shedeur Sanders won't opt out of the Buffaloes’ bowl game. Deion Sanders confirmed his players won't opt out.

"Our kids are going to play in our bowl game because that's what we signed up to do and we're going to finish," Sanders noted during a press conference on Friday. "We're not going to tap out, because that throws off the structure of next season."

Sanders subsequently made known why he and other seniors heading to the draft have to be available for the game.

"It's a team thing, that's what boils down to it," Sanders said Friday. "(If) me and Travis (Hunter) and a couple of other players aren't out there, the Buffs are not going to look the same initially going into the game. We understand the pieces we are to the team... We gotta lead by example."

Sanders has already broken the Buffaloes' single-season passing record, throwing for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns. This has so far earned him the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.