Friday Faceoff: Is Deion Sanders or Sean Payton the better long-term solution for football success in Colorado?

Mark Kiszla, columnist

Answer: Sean Payton

Knucklehead is as knucklehead does. I’m the knucklehead that boldly — or maybe foolishly? — declared before kickoff of this football season that the CU Buffs should be deeply disappointed if they don’t win at least eight games and Payton would lead the Broncos to a 9-8 record and a berth in the NFL playoffs.

Well, well, well. Who’s the knucklehead now?

We’re one month into our annual pigskin feast, and my ridiculously optimistic outlooks for the Buffs and Broncos are looking slightly less like hot takes and a little more like prescience.

OK, let’s not get carried away. The Broncos and Buffs need to notch a whole lotta W’s for me to be proven correct. But what if I am right for once in my life? Then Sanders and Payton will both be real contenders for Coach of the Year honors.

And if Prime is Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2024, I’m not so certain he will be coach of the Buffs in 2025. Florida State or a school in the Southeastern Conference will come calling on Deion with a Brinks truck filled with cash. Nobody would be surprised when Sanders replied to a get-richer-quick offer to get out of the Colorado snow and move back to his old stomping grounds in the Deep South with two words: We comin’.

So while I’m not yet sold on Payton being the long-term solution to what ails the Broncos, he seems more likely to stick around in Colorado longer than Sanders.

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Paul Klee, sports editor

Answer: Deion Sanders

While my good buddy Mark “Mr. Sunshine” Kiszla has the 2-2 Broncos on the comeback trail and the Buffs churning toward a January bowl game, allow this wet blanket to cool those jets.

Colorado is 4-1 because Shedeur Sanders is carrying the load as a future NFL superstar.

And the Broncos average 16 points per game — an icky remnant of the Nathaniel Hackett era.

Both Payton and Sanders have plenty to prove before they remind us of Shanny or Coach Mac.

But I need more than a Tebow-esque offense to crown Sean Payton as the answer to Denver’s long nightmare on offense. Shoot, Tim Tebow averaged 20 points over his first four starts.

Timmy Touchdown also went 3-1.

Credit Payton for sticking with Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator. VJ’s been the real MVP.

But the smart money is on Coach Prime as the long-term solution around these hills. The real test will be whether the money bags in Boulder can convince Prime it’s still the place to be when beloved sons Shedeur and Shilo are long gone.

If we’ve learned anything about Coach Prime, it’s that his loyalty resides with family first.

The Big 12 can be had. Only four of 16 teams rank in the AP Top 25 — none higher than 16. And can you name three other coaches in Coach Prime’s league — since it is Coach Prime’s league?

But it always comes down to the quarterback — college or pro. If Nix pans out, the Broncos are on the comeback. And if Coach Prime can find Shedeur’s successor, the Buffs are here to stay.

Make mine the gold chain at Folsom Field over the visor at Empower Field at Mile High.