Deion Sanders Faces Jon Root Criticism After Colorado’s 52-21 Win

Deion Sanders found himself at the centre of an unexpected debate after Colorado’s emphatic 52-21 victory over Weber State. The Buffaloes coach appeared agitated and restless before beginning his postgame media duties, and a moment that appeared to involve prayer quickly attracted attention on social media.

NFL analyst Jon Root reacted critically to the footage, questioning Sanders’ apparent attempt to pray in tongues. Root argued that what he saw did not resemble a biblical form of prayer and described it in strongly dismissive terms.

The incident came after Colorado improved to 2-0 in the 2026 college football season. While the discussion surrounding Sanders’ pre-press conference behaviour generated attention away from the field, his team had delivered a commanding offensive performance against Weber State.

Jon Root criticises Deion Sanders’ postgame moment

Root took to social media after seeing Sanders’ behaviour before the Colorado coach addressed reporters. The NFL analyst mocked what he interpreted as an attempt by Sanders to “pray in tongues” and questioned its religious authenticity.

Root’s criticism was directed at the manner in which Sanders appeared to pray rather than Colorado’s performance on the field. His comments quickly turned an unusual postgame moment into a wider social media discussion.

It is important to distinguish Root’s interpretation from an established fact about Sanders’ intentions. Sanders did not, in the supplied report, provide a detailed public explanation of the specific moment that Root criticised.

The incident therefore remains primarily a matter of interpretation and opinion rather than a confirmed dispute over Sanders’ religious beliefs.

Sanders was frustrated despite Colorado’s big win

Colorado’s 52-21 victory over Weber State might normally have produced a relaxed postgame atmosphere, but Sanders appeared far from satisfied when he approached the media.

The Buffaloes coach later explained that his frustration was linked to aspects of his team’s performance. In particular, he was unhappy with penalties and believed Colorado had not played with the level of dominance he expected.

That reaction provides useful context for his mood after the game. Although Colorado won by 31 points and improved to 2-0, Sanders was focused on areas where he believed his players had fallen short.

For a coach competing at the highest level of college football, a comfortable victory does not necessarily eliminate concerns. Penalties, missed opportunities and lapses in execution can become significant problems against stronger opponents.

Julian Lewis leads Colorado’s offensive charge

The result itself was never in serious doubt for long, with Colorado producing an impressive offensive display. Quarterback Julian Lewis was the standout performer through the air.

Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown, giving him five total touchdowns in a highly productive performance.

His passing efficiency allowed Colorado to consistently create scoring opportunities and put pressure on the Weber State defence. The quarterback’s performance also highlighted the offensive potential available to Sanders as the season progresses.

However, Sanders’ postgame frustration suggests that the coach is looking beyond the scoreboard. Colorado may have produced enough offense to win comfortably, but Sanders wants the team to execute more consistently before facing tougher opponents.

Micah Welch adds another dimension

Colorado’s rushing attack also made a meaningful contribution. Running back Micah Welch rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.

His average production per carry gave Colorado another effective way to move the football. The combination of Lewis’ passing performance and Welch’s rushing output helped the Buffaloes build a sizeable advantage.

For Sanders, having balance across the offense will be important as Colorado moves deeper into the season. Strong passing numbers can attract attention, but an effective rushing game can make an offense harder for opponents to predict.

The performance against Weber State therefore offered several positives, even though Sanders remained critical of the overall execution.

Weber State found some success through the air

Despite the eventual 31-point defeat, Weber State quarterback Nate Dahle managed to produce some offensive numbers of his own.

Dahle completed 20 of 48 passes for 244 yards, throwing three touchdowns and one interception. His passing production helped Weber State find the end zone three times, although the Wildcats struggled to match Colorado’s overall offensive output.

The difference in efficiency ultimately proved decisive. Colorado created more consistent scoring opportunities and converted them into a comfortable victory.

For Sanders, however, Weber State’s ability to score 21 points may have reinforced some of his concerns about defensive execution and discipline. His comments about wanting greater dominance suggest that he expects Colorado to control games more comprehensively.

Colorado started the season with a narrow win

The Weber State victory was Colorado’s second game of the 2026 season. The Buffaloes had opened their campaign with a much tighter 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech.

The contrast between the two results is notable. Colorado went from a one-point victory in its opener to a 31-point win in Week 2, suggesting that the team made significant progress offensively.

At 2-0, Sanders’ team has made a strong start in terms of its record. The next challenge, however, will provide another test of whether Colorado can maintain its momentum against a different opponent.

The Buffaloes will face Northwestern in their third game of the season on September 19. That contest will offer a clearer indication of how far the team has developed since its narrow opening victory.

Northwestern next for Deion Sanders and Colorado

Colorado’s next game is scheduled against Northwestern on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The matchup will take place at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. According to the supplied information, the contest will be available on FOX or FS1, with streaming also listed as an option through Fubo.

Northwestern represents another opportunity for Sanders’ team to continue its unbeaten start. After scoring 52 points against Weber State, Colorado will hope its offense can maintain that level of production while addressing the concerns that frustrated its head coach.

Penalties and defensive consistency will be among the areas worth watching. Against stronger opposition, mistakes that can be overcome against a weaker opponent can quickly change the outcome of a game.

Sanders’ reaction shows high expectations

One of the clearest takeaways from Sanders’ postgame mood is the level of expectation he has placed on Colorado. A 52-21 victory would normally be viewed as a dominant result, yet Sanders focused on what his team failed to accomplish rather than simply celebrating the margin.

That mentality can have both advantages and disadvantages. High standards can push players to improve and prevent complacency after big victories. At the same time, maintaining perspective is important during a long college football season.

Colorado has started 2-0, but the team still has plenty of football ahead. Sanders will need to make sure his players learn from the problems he identified while maintaining confidence from their strong offensive performances.

The Weber State game provided evidence that Colorado can produce points at a high rate. The Northwestern matchup will reveal whether the Buffaloes can combine that production with the discipline Sanders is demanding.

Why the social media controversy has attracted attention

The discussion surrounding Sanders’ prayer was largely separate from the football result, but it attracted attention because of his high profile as both a former NFL star and Colorado head coach.

Sanders has frequently attracted strong reactions from supporters and critics because of his outspoken personality and distinctive coaching style. That makes unusual moments involving him particularly likely to generate debate online.

In this case, Root’s comments added another layer to the conversation. His criticism reflected his own interpretation of Sanders’ behaviour, rather than establishing what Sanders intended by the moment.

The controversy also demonstrates how quickly conversations around college football can move beyond results and statistics. A brief postgame moment can become a major talking point when it involves a prominent coach such as Sanders.

The bigger picture for Colorado

Ultimately, Colorado’s football performance will matter more than the social media debate surrounding its coach. The Buffaloes are 2-0, and their latest victory featured impressive numbers from Lewis and Welch.

Lewis’ five total touchdowns and Welch’s 106 rushing yards give Sanders plenty of reasons to be encouraged about the offense. The coach’s dissatisfaction, meanwhile, suggests that Colorado still has areas it needs to improve.

The upcoming Northwestern game will provide the next opportunity to address those weaknesses. If Colorado can reduce penalties, improve consistency and maintain its offensive production, the Buffaloes could continue building momentum early in the 2026 campaign.

For Sanders, the challenge is to turn a strong start into sustained progress. The 2-0 record is valuable, but the quality of execution will become increasingly important as the schedule becomes more demanding.

Final Verdict

Deion Sanders’ unusual pre-press conference moment after Colorado’s win has sparked criticism from NFL analyst Jon Root, who questioned Sanders’ apparent prayer and dismissed it in strongly worded terms.

However, the bigger story from the weekend is Colorado’s 52-21 victory over Weber State. Julian Lewis produced 366 passing yards and five total touchdowns, while Micah Welch added 106 rushing yards and a score.

Sanders remains dissatisfied with certain aspects of his team’s performance, particularly penalties and a perceived lack of complete dominance. With Colorado now 2-0, the Buffaloes will look to carry their momentum into the September 19 meeting with Northwestern.