The University of Colorado football program is mourning the loss of one of its own following the tragic death of junior quarterback Dominiq Ponder. Head coach Deion Sanders confirmed the news Sunday afternoon, marking a somber start to what was intended to be the kickoff of the team’s spring football session.

According to reports from the Colorado State Patrol, the incident occurred as a single-car accident in Boulder County at approximately 3 a.m. on March 1. While authorities initially declined to identify the driver, officials noted that a 23-year-old male was traveling westbound on Baseline Road near Newland Court in a 2023 Tesla. Ivan Alvarado, a patrol sergeant, stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a right-hand curve. The car reportedly crossed into the eastbound lanes, crashed through a guardrail, and struck an electrical pole before rolling. Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ponder, a native of Opa Locka, Florida, arrived in Boulder in 2024 as a non-scholarship player. Before joining the Buffaloes, he spent time at Bethune-Cookman University, an HBCU in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he was redshirted. Although he was an unrated recruit by Rivals.com coming out of high school, Ponder worked his way into the rotation in Boulder, eventually appearing in two games during the 2025 season in a backup capacity. He made his collegiate debut late in a matchup against Arizona.

The Buffaloes are coming off a 3-9 season, the third under Sanders. As the program navigates this tragedy, the focus has shifted from the gridiron to supporting the student-athletes and the Ponder family.