The Colorado Buffaloes are going big this spring. On April 19, two jersey numbers will be retired during the team’s Spring Game: Travis Hunter’s No. 2 and Shedeur Sanders’ No. 12. The moment cements both players in school history, regardless of what their NFL futures hold.
There’s no debate around Hunter’s greatness. But when it comes to the second name on the list, Colorado’s fanbase isn’t exactly clapping in unison.
Colorado Buffaloes Fandom Questions Decision to Retire Shedeur Sanders’ Jersey
Shedeur Sanders isn’t your average college quarterback. He lit up scoreboards, kept Colorado in national headlines, and helped make the Buffs a weekly conversation point across college football. But as his No. 12 jersey prepares to be lifted into the rafters, the response from fans has been split.
“What did Sanders do on the merits to warrant having his number retired?” one fan asked a comment that quickly got a stinging reply.
Colorado must be the only team in history to retire player’s jerseys because they finally finished above .500
— Landry’s Ghost (@GhostLandry) April 15, 2025
“His last name,” wrote another fan. And just like that, the mood around the celebration turned into a debate.
But there are some good numbers to be fair.
They put Colorado back on the map well deserved ❤️❤️
— joey. (@JoeyS54018) April 15, 2025
Sanders threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023 despite being sacked a staggering 52 times behind a leaky offensive line. That season ended with a 4–8 record, and Sanders was sidelined late with a back fracture.
Then came the 2024 redemption arc.
Sanders posted 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions while leading Colorado to a 9–4 finish and an Alamo Bowl appearance. He took home the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
So, yes—there are good numbers. But for many fans, they’re not enough to warrant jersey retirement.
“He was sacked 94 times in two years,” one fan noted, implying Sanders spent more time under pressure than lifting the program.
“What exactly did Shedeur Sanders achieve at Colorado?” another user asked. The blunt response: “Not much.”
Tension has emerged between Shedeur’s raw production and the perceived reason behind the jersey honor. Many fans feel the move has more to do with his father, Deion Sanders, than it does with his on-field accomplishments.
I understand Travis Hunter because he won the Heisman, but Sheduer didn’t win shit.
— Tonya Bailey (@tbailey1976) April 15, 2025
That sentiment has roots.
Sanders was named starting quarterback the moment he transferred from Jackson State. Coach Prime arrived, and so did his son. From day one, it was the Deion and Shedeur show.
But it’s also unfair to pretend Shedeur didn’t bring electricity to Boulder. His debut in 2023 was an instant classic: 510 yards and four touchdowns in a shootout win over No. 17 TCU. His quick release and deep-ball accuracy made Colorado must-watch TV. Still, for many, it doesn’t add up to a retired number.
It’s clear the fandom is in limbo on this one.
Some fans see Shedeur as the spark that reignited the program. Others view him as the coach’s son playing by a different set of rules. To them, this jersey retirement feels like the final chapter of a story that was written before the first snap.
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When April 19 arrives and No. 12 is immortalized beside Hunter’s No. 2, the cheers will be there. But so will the side-eyes, the tweets, and the quiet murmurs.
That’s the weight of the Sanders name. The spotlight follows it—but so does the division.
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