Coach Prime is staring down a massive quarterback decision at Colorado, with his offense looking straight-up anemic and the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders coming to town Saturday night. Julian Lewis, who was supposed to be the guy after Shedeur went to the NFL, just isn’t consistently igniting this offense, and the Buffaloes are stuck in a two-game funk at 2-2 overall, 0-1 in the Big 12. It’s gotten so bad that Coach Sanders benched Lewis for the second half last weekend against Baylor, and now a backup might be stepping into the starting role.
Julian Lewis Benched? The QB Quandary Is Real
Seriously, this is a mess. Deion Sanders has made it clear what he wants in a QB: confidence, a firm grasp of the offense, and someone teammates actually respond to in the huddle. Sounds simple enough, right? But Lewis, the highly touted prospect, just hasn’t locked it down. Last weekend, after being benched at Baylor, transfer Isaac Wilson got his shot. Wilson, the younger brother of former BYU standout Zach Wilson, provided a spark, even throwing a fourth-quarter touchdown to momentarily tie the game in that 23-13 loss. Deion even said, “Isaac had a great spring, by the way. So if he gets the nod, I feel all-out that he’s going to do his thing.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for your current starter, is it? Coach Prime says the decision will play out in practice this week, but he also hinted he might have already made up his mind, shutting down any “narratives” about it already being decided.
“The Plays Are There” , But The Points Aren’t
The biggest problem? The offense is just sputtering. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s “Go-Go” system, which is supposed to be this high-tempo scheme with run-pass options and heavy misdirection, is absolutely not hitting its stride. This is an offense that averaged 33.8 points per game in 2025 at Sacramento State and 36.2 points at UNLV in 2024. This season? Colorado is averaging a league-low 21.5 points. That’s a huge drop-off! Deion sounds frustrated, saying, “The plays are there. If we just sat down with all of you and just turned on the film and watched the film, you would say, ‘Dang, for real.’ We’ve got to take advantage of the plays that are there.” It’s not about the scheme, it’s about executing, and right now, they just aren’t doing it.
A Brutal Road Ahead
This QB switch, if it happens, is coming at the worst possible time. The Buffaloes are about to hit the toughest stretch of their season. They’ve got No. 12 Texas Tech this Saturday, then No. 13 Utah, before going on the road to face No. 19 Oklahoma State. That’s a brutal gauntlet, and you need a quarterback you can trust to navigate it. Receiver Joseph Williams, who’s had 22 catches for 361 yards and four touchdowns this season, tried to stay positive, saying, “We feel like we can play with anybody. Regardless what jersey you’ve got on, regardless who’s out there, we feel like we can play with whoever.” That’s the right mindset, but a decision needs to be made, and fast. Everyone’s watching to see if Deion pulls the trigger on Isaac Wilson against the Red Raiders. This Saturday night isn’t just a game; it’s potentially a season-defining moment for Colorado.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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