Deion Sanders benches Julian Lewis, revives Colorado’s biggest problem - USA Today
Sixteen games later, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders still can’t seem to find anyone good enough to replace his quarterback son Shedeur.
Last year, he started three quarterbacks as the Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 record. Now he’s already benched this year’s starting quarterback, Julian Lewis, just four games into the season (and 16 games since Shedeur last took a snap for the Buffs.)
But that didn't work for Sanders, either. Colorado lost at Baylor 23-13 on Saturday, Sept. 26, after Sanders changed quarterbacks at halftime, when the Buffs were down 10-3.
Utah transfer Isaac Wilson replaced Lewis in the second half and finished with 12-of-25 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown. Lewis, who recently turned 19 years old, completed 11 of 16 passes in the first half for just 75 yards as the Buffs fell to 2-2.
Lewis has struggled this season and threw two interceptions last week in a 41-7 loss at Northwestern. On Saturday, after watching Lewis struggle again, Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion appeared to tell him, "Stop being scared."
The question for Sanders now is who he will start next, when the Buffs host Texas Tech on Oct. 3. Sanders said after the game he didn't know yet.
"Don't give up on JuJu," Sanders said of Lewis after the game.
Before the season, Sanders said he made a “mistake” at this position after Shedeur led the Buffs to a 9-4 record in 2024.
“I think I was saying I took for granted that position of how valuable it was because that position was always one room over in my house,” Sanders said earlier this week at his weekly news conference in Boulder. “So it’s easy to take for granted when it’s right there. My whole life of coaching youth ball, coaching junior high, coaching high school, coaching college, it was right there.”
It’s not there now. Shedeur got drafted by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 2025, opening the door for a revolving door at the position ever since.
First it was Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. Then it was Ryan Staub, who since has transferred to Tennessee. Lewis then started two games last year, both losses.
Now it’s Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson. Isaac Wilson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Joseph Williams with 11:04 left in the fourth quarter against Baylor, helping tie the game at 13-13. But Colorado's next three drives ended with a punt, a fumble and a turnover on downs to finish the game.
It didn't help either quarterback that receiver DeAndre Moore left the game for good with an apparent head injury in the second quarter. He was jolted by a Baylor defender on an incomplete pass and had to be helped off the field after leading the team with 15 catches before Saturday.
