The hiring of Deion Sanders to the head coach job at Colorado has galvanized the program’s fanbase and piqued the interests of college football fans around the country.
The Buffaloes held their spring game over the weekend in Boulder. Not only was attendance at their stadium a night and day difference from years past, but the scrimmage and brief glimpse into the impact Sanders’ arrival has already made on the program got plenty of attention on television.
ESPN aired the game live on Saturday, and 551,000 viewers tuned in according to the network. Historically, only Alabama in 2016 has drawn more viewers for a spring football game.
The 550k figure also bested the average viewership in 2022 for three Pac-12 schools including Colorado.
Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes were the only team that had its spring game air on linear television. All other spring games aired on ESPN+ and other digital networks. It is a clear sign that even if Colorado doesn’t start the season in the top 25, people clearly are curious about what Sanders can accomplish there.
