Julian Lewis is officially benched. After a shaky 2-2 start to the season, Colorado is turning the keys over to Utah transfer Isaac Wilson at quarterback, starting this Saturday at home against No. 11 Texas Tech. This isn’t just a minor lineup tweak, folks; this is a full-blown shake-up that’s been brewing since Lewis, a highly touted recruit, struggled to find his footing in Boulder.
The Big Switch and the Numbers That Forced It
Let’s be real, Lewis, who was a crown jewel recruit for Deion Sanders after flipping late from USC and reclassifying into the 2025 class, just hasn’t delivered. Outside of one strong performance against FCS Weber State, he’s been inconsistent, plain and simple. We’re talking an average of just 5.1 yards per pass attempt against FBS opponents! That’s not gonna cut it when you’re trying to compete in the Big 12. Coach Sanders didn’t mince words either, stating he doesn’t see Lewis as a team leader or ready for that role. “I told y’all he’ll be coming around the mountain, so what does that mean? He ain’t there yet. I can’t expect something out of you that’s not in you. That’s not an insult,” Sanders reportedly said last week. Ouch.
Enter Isaac Wilson, the Utah transfer who spent 2025 as a backup to Devon Dampier before coming to Boulder. While his true freshman season at Utah in 2024 saw him throw 10 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in a tough Big 12 debut, he showed something last week. Stepping in during the second half of a 23-13 loss against Baylor, Wilson actually lit a fire. He went for 156 yards and a touchdown in just one half, helping the Buffaloes claw back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter before the Bears pulled away. That kind of spark is exactly what this team desperately needs right now.
A Pattern of QB Trouble Haunting Boulder
This isn’t an isolated incident, either. The quarterback position has been an Achilles heel for Sanders since his son, Shedeur, graduated. Think about it: outside of a pandemic-shortened season, Coach Sanders has never coached a team without Shedeur as his starting QB. With Shedeur, his teams posted a 36-15 record over four years. Without him? A much less impressive 9-14. That’s a stark contrast that screams “QB issues.”
Last season saw a carousel of signal-callers, too. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter started but was benched for Ryan Staub. Salter got another shot, only to be benched again for Lewis. This constant shuffling saw the Buffaloes plummet from No. 1 to 13 in the Big 12 in passing offense. It’s a rough scene. They’ve posted a 1-8 conference record for the second time in three seasons, and currently have a brutal seven-game losing streak against Big 12 competition. On top of that, last offseason saw a mass exodus with left tackle Jordan Seaton heading to LSU, wide receivers Omarion Miller to Arizona State and Dre’lon Miller to Baylor, along with 18 other players landing at Power Four schools. Losing that much talent doesn’t make things easier.
Now, Wilson gets his shot against No. 11 Texas Tech. Can he be the answer, or is this just another chapter in a never-ending quarterback saga for the Buffaloes? This Saturday is a huge test for Wilson and a critical moment for a team that desperately needs a win and some consistency.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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