A reported game-plan discovery puts Deion Sanders’ Colorado program under scrutiny
Texas Tech fan reportedly found what appeared to be Colorado’s offensive game plan at the Buffaloes’ team hotel before the teams’ Oct. 3 matchup. The unusual discovery placed head coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football program under an unexpected spotlight.
The material reportedly contained scripted plays and other game-plan details, some of which appeared to match plays Colorado used during the game. Questions remain about how the document reached the hotel seating area and whether anyone connected to Texas Tech saw it before kickoff.
The document was found at the team hotel
The discovery reportedly happened at the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield, Colorado. Texas Tech fans were staying at the same hotel while visiting for the Red Raiders’ game against Colorado.
According to the fan who described the discovery, the pages were sitting in a lobby area near the hotel bar. The fan said he initially believed the material might contain general information before recognizing it as Colorado’s football material.
The pages contained detailed offensive plans
Images shared after the discovery showed pages labeled with terms including “Series Openers” and “Must Calls.” The material also reportedly included red-zone plays and a scripted opening sequence for Colorado’s offense.
On3 reported that the document contained a breakdown of scripted plays for the opening drive. The pages also reportedly included information about Texas Tech’s tendencies and Colorado’s planned offensive approach.
Colorado opened with a scripted touchdown drive
Colorado’s first possession against Texas Tech covered 75 yards in 9 plays. The Buffaloes finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Wilson to Joseph Williams.
The opening possession became important after images of the playbook circulated online. Reports indicated that the opening offensive calls matched plays shown in the material, including a reverse-pass play used during the opening drive.
The opening plays matched the document
Videos shared online compared Colorado’s opening offensive plays with those found on pages at the hotel. One comparison showed the first 6 plays from the opening possession matching the sequence shown in the material.
Another report said the first 2 plays of Colorado’s second-half possession also appeared in the document. Those comparisons helped establish that the material appeared to be an authentic Colorado game plan.
Colorado did not confirm the leak
Colorado did not publicly confirm that a staff member had left the material at the hotel. CBS Sports reported that the school declined to comment when asked about the story.
That distinction matters because the initial discovery came from a fan’s message-board account. Later reports, including On3’s account, said the game plan itself was real, while the circumstances surrounding how it was left at the hotel remained less clear.
Texas Tech said it did not use the material
There is no reported evidence that Texas Tech coaches received or viewed the pages before the game. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told On3 that he never saw the material discovered by the fans.
The fan who found the document said he considered taking it to Texas Tech. On3 reported that he ultimately did not get it to the team before the matchup at Folsom Field.
Texas Tech pulled away after halftime
Colorado led Texas Tech 7-3 at halftime after holding the Red Raiders to 3 points in the first half. Texas Tech then scored 9 points in the third quarter and 17 more in the fourth.
The Red Raiders won 29-7 at Folsom Field on Oct. 3, dropping Colorado to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play.
Interesting fact: Deion Sanders led Jackson State to back-to-back SWAC championships before taking over at Colorado. His Jackson State teams went 27-6 across three seasons, including a 12-1 campaign in 2022.
Isaac Wilson threw three interceptions
Isaac Wilson made his first start for Colorado against Texas Tech after the Buffaloes changed their quarterback plan. He completed 26 of 44 passes for 290 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions.
Texas Tech’s defense turned one interception into a touchdown when John Curry picked off Wilson in the end zone. The Red Raiders added another touchdown late in the fourth quarter to complete the 29-7 victory.
The offense stopped scoring
Colorado scored its only touchdown during the opening possession against Texas Tech. The Buffaloes were held scoreless during the second, third and fourth quarters.
Texas Tech’s defense forced 4 Colorado interceptions during the contest. The Red Raiders scored 29 points after Colorado’s opening touchdown, turning a 7-3 first-quarter score into a 29-7 victory.
Deion Sanders addressed the offense
Colorado coach Deion Sanders spoke openly about the team’s offensive struggles after the loss. He described the offense as “horrible” while discussing the Buffaloes’ inability to score after their opening touchdown.
Sanders also said the quarterback position was hurting the team and that someone needed to step up. His comments came after Wilson threw 3 interceptions and Colorado failed to score again following its opening touchdown drive.
Colorado now has a bye week
Colorado does not have another game immediately after the loss to Texas Tech. The Buffaloes enter a bye week before hosting Utah at Folsom Field on Oct. 17.
Utah is ranked No. 11, making Colorado’s next game another Big 12 matchup against a nationally ranked opponent after its loss to then-No. 12 Texas Tech.
Colorado’s heavy loss to Texas Tech has put Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes under renewed scrutiny. Find out what is fueling the criticism as Deion Sanders faces growing scrutiny after Colorado’s 29-7 loss to Texas Tech.
The leak remains an unusual episode
The playbook story stands out because reported pages appeared to correspond with several plays Colorado actually used. The material included specific information that allowed multiple reports to compare its contents with the team’s game actions.
At the same time, the available reporting does not establish that Texas Tech coaches saw or used the material before kickoff. Colorado has not publicly explained how the document ended up in the hotel area.
Deion Sanders has spoken publicly about the legal and financial issues surrounding his son Shilo Sanders. Find out what he said about the situation in Deion Sanders addresses son Shilo’s $11.89 million bankruptcy case and legal dispute.
What do you think about the Colorado playbook leak? Was it simply an unusual mistake, or does the situation raise bigger questions about game-day security? Like this post and comment with your take.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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