BOULDER — Ben Finneseth has just a few words to describe Deion Sanders.

“He’s a tough son of a gun,” the former walk-on safety and Durango native said.

Now in his fifth season with the Colorado program, Finneseth has seen a lot, but not much compared to what his head coach has gone through this season.

In spite of a disappointing 3-7 season with two games to play and health issues like bladder cancer and recurring blood clots in his legs, Sanders is still the same person Finneseth remembers from the first time he met him nearly three years ago.

“I don’t think he even cares what happens to him, to be honest with you,” Finneseth said. “He shows up every day with the same mentality. He is who he is. That’s what I admire about him.”

The Sanders that showed up to CU in 2022 has the same aspirations and belief in himself that he can make the Buffaloes into a consistent winner — not just one that can win nine games and come close to reaching the Big 12 title game like in 2024.

“You’ve got the right man,” Coach Prime said Tuesday as his team began preparations for Arizona State on Saturday (6 p.m. ESPN2). “I promise you you do and I’m gonna prove that to you. Just give me a little more time and I’m gonna prove that to you.

“If anybody is built for adversity, I am. If anybody is built for change, I am. If anybody is built to overcome situations and trials and tribulations, I am.”

As Sanders and his team returned to campus this week from the second of two bye weeks ahead of the final two games of the season, there is no bowl game to play for. But there is a future to play for. 

The Buffs have already handed the keys over to 18-year-old freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who impressed in his first career start last time out, albeit in a close loss at West Virginia. There are also plenty of other promising pieces — like star left tackle Jordan Seaton, wide receiver Omarion Miller and safety Aawfiq Byard — that Coach Prime and his staff can build around heading into 2026.

“Game day is the future. (If) you win, that helps the future. The preparation shouldn’t be different if you’re winning or if you’re getting your butt kicked,” Sanders said. “The record, to me, is not indicative of who these young men are, who these coaches are, who this program is. The ball just didn’t bounce our way and we gotta do something about it and we’re gonna do something about it as soon as this season is over.”

While the Buffs are dealing with inevitable turnover on the roster and within the coaching staff, the athletic department as a whole will be searching for its next leader as athletic director Rick George, who has been in charge since 2013, will be stepping down at the end of the academic year and transitioning into an advisory role, while maintaining a close relationship with Sanders and the football program.

“I don’t feel like I’m losing him because I feel like he’s still gonna be a part of the program,” Sanders said. “He didn’t leave because of what’s transpiring this year. It was already in place that Rick was gonna step away from his original post, but he’s gonna still help the program. I love him. I wouldn’t be here without him and we’ve talked extensively for a while about this decision that he’s making, but I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be in good hands.”

Sanders feels that way about his program, specifically, because he has no intention of leaving it in the hands of someone else. Even as the doctor’s visits and losses piled up, Sanders still has no desire to do anything but be on the sidelines at Folsom Field.

“This is what I do, this is who I am,” he said. “If a loss can influence me to shut it down, what does a win influence me to do? I got to be rock steady. I’ve got to be the same guy, and I think I have been. I don’t teach these young men to be influenced by (a) good day (or a) bad day. You gotta make the day your day.

“I haven’t forgotten how to coach in a year. We did some things that we shouldn’t have done. That’s on us. I know what I want, I know what I should see and (next) year, I’m gonna see it.”