Lincoln Riley has his USC program 4-0 and heading into a Week 5 matchup against Colorado. While the Trojans will be major favorites for that game, the Buffs look dramatically different than in years past.

The differences, of course, include Deion Sanders leading Colorado as head coach and the massive overhaul of the roster that Coach Prime has conducted in Boulder. Asked for his first impressions Tuesday evening, Riley had nothing but respect for Sanders’ work with the Buffs.

“He’s done a great job, look at the results. At the end of the day, our job as coaches is to do what’s necessary to help make these programs that they give us an opportunity as best as we possibly can,” said Riley. “That’s kind of the end of it.”

Riley went on to point to some similarities between Sanders’ early work at Colorado and Riley’s own at USC. He also said Coach Prime comes across as very genuine, something that is important for any leader.

“We’ve all seen it here, there’s a lot more similarities in the transformation here and what coach has done at Colorado than there’s not. I see right where he’s coming from, he’s done a great job with the roster,” explained Riley. “I don’t know him, I’ve never met him, but he seems very genuine in his approach. Listen, everybody’s different, everybody has different personalities. I think leadership, when you’re fake and you’re something you’re not, people can see right through that… If you are yourself, you can be a great leader.”

Colorado was off to a 3-0 start in Sanders’ first season before a blowout loss on the road to Oregon. The Buffs return home to face the Trojans, but it will still be a tough showdown for Colorado to try and upset Caleb Williams and company.