Key Points:
- Colorado suffered another blowout loss, falling 52-17 to Arizona and being outscored 105-24 over two games.
- True freshman quarterback Julian Lewis shined in limited action, throwing a 59-yard touchdown and totaling 121 passing yards.
- Lewis is expected to start Week 11 versus West Virginia.
The season somehow keeps getting worse for Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes (3-6) team.
After losing 53-7 to the Utah Utes and their true freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin, who was making his first career start in Week 9, the Buffs welcomed Noah Fifita and the Arizona Wildcats (5-3) to town on Saturday. Although Arizona entered the game as only 3.5-point favorites according to ESPN BET, they ended up demolishing Colorado. The Wildcats left what was Colorado’s homecoming game with a 52-17 victory, as Colorado has now been outscored 105-24 in its last two games.
When a team loses by 35 points, there typically isn’t much to be excited about, but for Colorado, there was one silver lining from the embarrassment of a performance they put on display. True freshman quarterback Julian Lewis, whom ESPN ranked as the No. 12 recruit in the 2025 class made what was his first appearance since the team’s Week 2 win over Delaware.
With the team down 45-7, Lewis’ second pass of the game was a 59-yard touchdown pass to Omarion Miller, giving Colorado fans a glimpse into their future.
Lewis’ touchdown pass already made him the leading passer for Colorado on the night, as Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub combined to throw for 49 yards total, but the true freshman who reclassified into the 2025 class had himself a nice outing.
He finished the game 9-of-17 for 121 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 15 yards. His strong performance not only gave Colorado fans something to look forward to next year, but also reportedly earned him the starting role in Week 11.
As reported by CBS Sports’ college football insider Matt Zenitz, Lewis is expected to get the starting nod for the Buffs on Saturday when they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-6).
“Colorado is currently expected to make a QB change and start freshman Julian Lewis vs. West Virginia this weekend, sources tell @CBSSports,” wrote Zenitz on X. “Was a Class of 2025 top-50 overall recruit.”
Colorado clearly not worried about preserving Julian Lewis’ redshirt
Assuming Lewis is the starter for Colorado’s final three games, Lewis will have played in five games on the year, surpassing the threshold of four, which would have allowed him to redshirt. When speaking to the media after the game, Sanders denied whether or not there was a plan for Lewis to redshirt.
“I don’t know his thought process or his parents’. I have no idea,” said Sanders. “I just control what we can control. I’m proud the kid got an opportunity. Sometimes you’re forced to do some things that probably should be done anyway. I’m glad he got an opportunity. He got his feet wet a little bit. He got to see blitzes, just real play, and what he needed to work on. And he will. He’s a worker. He’s going to try his best to get it done. But I’m glad we got to that conclusion.”
With Colorado needing to win out to make a bowl game, they could bench Lewis for one of the final three games to preserve his redshirt, but considering how poor the offense has looked under Salter and Staub, it may be difficult to turn back to either one of them. Colorado’s game against West Virginia is set for noon ET on Saturday and will air on TNT/HBO Max.