Colorado needed a jolt in Waco, and Deion Sanders went to the bench to find it.
After Julian Lewis struggled through the first half of Saturday’s Big 12 opener at Baylor, Sanders turned to Isaac Wilson to start the second half in the 23-13 loss. Lewis, who looked uncomfortable in the pocket and hesitant to test Baylor’s defense, finished the first half with just 75 passing yards before giving way.
Sanders owned the decision afterward.
"I'll take the responsibility. It's a decision that I made because I was trying to get us going," Sanders said, per BuffsTV.
"That's it. Just based on, let's go.
We got to get going. We got to score."
Wilson wasn’t perfect, but he gave Colorado more life. The Utah transfer threw for 156 yards on 12-of-25 passing and led the Buffaloes’ only touchdown drive, capped by a 17-yard strike to wide receiver Joseph Williams.
"Isaac came in a little shaky, nervous, I don't know what," Sanders said. Then he calmed down a little bit, got us down the field, did his job.
This is all we want. And one thing I told him: 'You don't have to be the man.
Just get the ball to the men, and we're good.' That's the one thing that we need to understand from that position.
You don't have to be the guy. Just get the ball to the guys, and we're fine."
Even with Wilson’s better showing, Sanders said he’s not ready to lock in a starter for next weekend’s game against Texas Tech.
"We gotta reassess everything and see where we're going," Sanders said.
Freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne is also part of that conversation. He entered the game listed second on Colorado’s depth chart at quarterback, and Sanders said putting the offense in his hands would be "more of a long-term type of thought process."
Lewis’ hold on the job clearly took a hit Saturday, but Sanders didn’t sound ready to close the door on him.
"Don't give up on JuJu," Sanders said. "He plays with tremendous effort and tremendous heart.
He's not quitting, and he's not abandoning anybody. We just needed a change.
We needed inspiration at that time, some kind of way."
In Other News...
Colorado Just Turned Baylor's QB Problem Into A Bigger Big 12 Story
Julian Lewis spent part of the Baylor game on the sideline after Colorado went to Isaac Wilson at quarterback, a move that instantly turned the Buffs most watched position into the biggest question hanging over the week. Wilson finished 12-of-25 for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Deion Sanders made clear afterward that Lewis is still very much in the mix and that the room has stayed supportive through the change.
Now Colorado is heading toward a bigger decision before Texas Tech, with Wilson, Lewis and Kaneal Sweetwyne all still in play. For a team trying to find its best offensive rhythm in the Big 12, the quarterback conversation is no longer just about one game or one player. It has become the kind of week-to-week choice that can shape how the rest of the season looks. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Facing A Colorado Conversation Fans Never Expected
Colorados early-season stumble has put Deion Sanders in the same uneasy conversation usually reserved for coaches on the hottest seats. The scrutiny around the Buffaloes is only growing after a rough stretch, and the broader picture around college football makes the moment feel even sharper, with other high-profile coaches such as Mike Locksley, Greg Schiano and Lincoln Riley also drawing increased pressure as losses pile up and tougher games loom.
For Sanders, the disappointment is not just about one result but about how quickly expectations can shift when momentum disappears. Colorado still has games ahead that will test whether the program can steady itself, and for a fan base that never expected this kind of discussion so soon, the bigger question is whether the season can be steered back before the noise around the job gets any louder. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Face A Tougher Price To See Texas Tech
The next big home date at Folsom Field is also turning into one of the pricier ones for Colorado fans. When Texas Tech comes to Boulder for a Big 12 matchup, the secondary market is already showing tickets starting around $100, while official prices run from $100 to $303, a reflection of how much attention this game is drawing well before kickoff.
A ranked opponent tends to do that, and Texas Techs No. 11 status is a big part of the equation. Add in the games tie-in to Colorados Homecoming and Stripe Out events, and this one carries a little extra buzz for a late-season home crowd, even if the cost of getting in makes the walk up the hill a tougher sell. [Read more 🡒]