Deion Sanders did his best to explain the Colorado football team’s embarrassing loss to Northwestern on Saturday night.

“I’m going to try my best to explain everything that I need to explain to you in the most polite manner I can at this point,” Coach Prime said after the Buffs‘ 41-7 loss at Northwestern.

Deion Sanders said Colorado was outcoached by Northwestern, specifically by Wildcats offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Northwestern QB Aidan Chiles accounted for five total TDs (three passing, two rushing) as the Wildcats racked up 423 yards of total offense.

“That kid played the best football game I’ve ever seen him play,” Deion Sanders said postgame. “That’s not an insult or a shot either. We wanted him to sit in the pocket and throw.

“We wanted to force him into tough throws and that’s what he made.”

Colorado has now allowed 62 points and 795 yards in the last two weeks.

Offensively, the Buffs were able to muster just seven points due in large part to turnovers (seven total) and fourth-down inefficiency (0-for-3 on 4th down).

“Turnovers were (the problem) today,” Deion Sanders said. “And we have to convert. We didn’t play the type of offensive and defensive football that we’re capable of playing.”

Julian Lewis was one of many Buffs who didn’t play up to their potential on Saturday night. The Colorado QB threw the first two INTs of his young career and has seemingly yet to get on the same page with OC Brennan Marion.

In two games against Power 4 opponents this season, Lewis has led the offense to score just 21 points. That’s a concerning trend entering Big 12 play.

“The way he rebounds and recovers from that, we just don’t want him being afraid to go out there and let it hang out,” Deion Sanders said postgame of Julian Lewis. “Just go and do your thing. If it happens, it happens.”

Penalties were also a big reason why Colorado got dogwalked. The Buffs committed nine penalties for 80 yards and many of them came at inopportune times, helping Northwestern extend drives.

Coach Prime believes those issues will be fixed, though.

“We have to do better,” Deion Sanders said of the penalties. “We penalize these guys for what they do. If it’s 15 yards, it’s 15 gassers. So they’re going to be in shape or they’re going to stop.

“We’ll get it right. I promise you.”

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