The prospect of the Big 12 landing three teams in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is no longer a fantasy—it’s a tangible goal driven by the stellar performances of Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah. This level of representation would be a colossal, unprecedented success, immediately validating the conference's aggressive expansion and its quality as a powerhouse league.

The current strength of the top three is the foundation of this dream. Texas Tech, as the clear frontrunner and presumptive Big 12 Champion, is tracking for a guaranteed spot and potentially even a first-round bye. Their 10-1 record, bolstered by the dominant win over UCF and a suffocating defense, makes them one of the nation’s elite résumés.

The real excitement lies in the two at-large spots. BYU (9-1), with their single loss coming against the Red Raiders, and Utah (8-2), despite two losses, are both highly ranked by the CFP committee. They are consistently placed ahead of the contenders from other conferences, signaling the committee's respect for their quality and their schedules. For the Big 12 to secure three bids, they need two key outcomes:

A Close Championship Game: If Texas Tech faces BYU or Utah and the game is a tight, high-quality contest, the loser, particularly an 11-2 BYU or 10-3 Utah, will be far more appealing than a two-loss SEC or Big Ten school.

Chaos Elsewhere: Crucially, the Big 12 needs the three at-large spots to be available. As long as the other major conferences don't produce four or five elite, one-loss teams, the Big 12's top three will have a strong case based on their head-to-head success and overall depth of quality wins, making the three-bid Big 12 a powerful reality in 2025.

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders' future has become a significant topic of discussion, with increasing speculation that he may retire from coaching due to ongoing and serious medical issues.

Sanders, who is approaching his 58th birthday, has battled significant health complications for several years. His struggles began in 2021 during his tenure at Jackson State when he underwent multiple surgeries for blood clots, which ultimately led to the amputation of two toes on his left foot. In 2023, he faced further complications, requiring additional surgery to treat clotting in his right leg.

The severity of his current health situation has intensified in recent months. Sanders was notably absent from Colorado's campus throughout much of spring and summer 2025, opting to remain at his home in Texas for recovery. While he made a brief appearance at Big 12 Media Days, he explicitly declined to discuss his health, stating his focus was on his team. However, recent video clips shared by his son, Deion Sanders Jr., showed the coach participating in limited physical activities, and in one candid moment, Sanders admitted he was "still going through something" and had to draft a will, underscoring the gravity of his health battle.

On Monday, July 28, 2025, Sanders is scheduled to hold a press conference alongside his medical team from CU Anschutz Medical Campus and UCHealth. This unprecedented move for a college football coach has fueled widespread speculation that he will provide a significant update on his health, with many anticipating a potential announcement regarding his retirement.

Beyond the medical concerns, the timing of this speculation also coincides with the departure of his sons, Shedeur Sanders (quarterback, drafted by the Cleveland Browns) and Shilo Sanders (safety, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), to the NFL. Two-way star Travis Hunter, whom Sanders refers to as an "unofficial son," was also drafted No. 2 overall. With his core trio of star players no longer with the Buffaloes, some observers believe Sanders' motivation to endure the rigors of coaching might have waned, especially given his health challenges.

Should Deion Sanders announce his retirement, it would mark a short but seismic era at Colorado. Hired in December 2022, he quickly transformed a 1-11 program into a national spectacle, leading them to a 9-4 record in 2024 and generating a reported $93.9 million economic impact for the city of Boulder. His charisma and media savvy created a "Prime Effect" that brought unprecedented attention to the university. Colorado recently signed him to a $54 million extension through 2029, making him the highest-paid coach in the Big 12.

However, his prolonged absence from team activities and recruiting, coupled with the uncharacteristic silence from the university regarding his condition, has left Colorado facing an uncertain future. While Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter is expected to start at quarterback, and five-star freshman Julian "JuJu" Lewis could challenge, the program's 2026 recruiting class currently ranks last in the Big 12, reflecting the impact of Sanders' absence from the trail.

The impending press conference is expected to bring much-needed clarity to a situation that has captivated the college football world, potentially signaling a significant shift for the Colorado football program and for Coach Prime's future.

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