Deion Sanders addressed a viral postgame moment following Colorado’s 31-point victory, saying a prayer he offered in the locker room — which some viewers described as speaking in tongues — was genuine and not staged.
Coach Prime, as Sanders is widely known, told reporters the prayer came after he delivered an intense, angry speech to his players following the win. He said the spiritual moment helped him settle down emotionally and was simply an expression of his faith.
“It’s not a gimmick,” Sanders said, pushing back against skepticism that circulated on social media after footage of the locker-room scene spread widely online.
The clip drew significant attention, with viewers divided over what they were witnessing. Sanders made clear he was unbothered by the scrutiny, framing the moment as consistent with how he has long conducted himself as a coach and a public figure who is open about his Christian faith.
Colorado’s lopsided victory added to what has been a closely watched season for the Buffaloes under Sanders, who took over the program in 2023 and immediately transformed it into one of college football’s most high-profile teams. His outspoken personality, combined with the presence of his sons — quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way player Shilo Sanders — on the roster, has kept the program under a national spotlight.
The locker-room prayer, whatever its interpretation, fit a broader pattern for Sanders, who has consistently blended faith and football throughout his career — first as a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and later as a head coach at the college level.
