Deion Sanders Says Gambling by Players on Their Own Sport Is Wrong

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said a player gambling on the sport they compete in raises a fundamental problem. "Somebody's gambling on a sport they're playing? " Sanders said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

"Just say that to yourself: This guy on my team is gambling on the sport, in the competition, that we're about to go out there and have. " Sanders made the statements before a court ruling restored eligibility to Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The order set aside an NCAA ban on Sorsby for betting on pro and college sports.

Colorado is scheduled to play Texas Tech on October 3, 2026, as part of homecoming festivities. Sanders also addressed broader changes in college football. He said the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals have altered incentives.

"The game is still the game," he said. "The game is just positioned differently. " Sanders, 58, discussed his health during the interview. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer one year prior to June 2026 and underwent treatment that included reconstruction of a section of his intestine to function as a bladder.

Earlier this spring, he stepped away from the team for a few days while dealing with blood clots. "I'm feeling great. I've got my old swagger back," he said. Sanders said he is taking more time away from work.

He recently partnered on a beachfront property in St. Croix with his son Shedeur Sanders, who is entering his second season as a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns. "I never would've done that, because I don't go anywhere," Sanders said.

The Buffaloes finished 3-9 last season after making a bowl game the prior year. Sanders said he has been more hands-on this offseason. "I have everybody in that locker room because we said we want them," he said.