Colorado enters 2026 with plenty of change, and the offense may be the clearest example of it. Deion Sanders’ program has been reworked around a new quarterback, a new coordinator, and a new system, which leaves the Buffaloes with a wide-open race for who drives the production.
The safest answer, though, is Julian Lewis.
Lewis is set to take over as Colorado’s starting quarterback after seeing limited action as a true freshman last season. In four appearances, he threw for 589 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. His first start came against West Virginia, and even though Colorado lost that game, Lewis was named the Big 12 quarterback of the week.
Ariana Pensy called him “a rather unoriginal answer,” but also the obvious one. With Lewis now in command, she believes Colorado’s top offensive player will be its quarterback, and she added that he “could help Colorado win some close games this year.”
Charlie Strella made the same basic case from a different angle. He also labeled Lewis “an unoriginal pick,” but said quarterback is still the most important position in sports.
Colorado, he noted, has one that “everyone around the program can feel confident in.” Strella pointed out that if the Buffaloes had a true workhorse running back or a notable offensive lineman, the answer might change, but they do not.
That leaves Lewis as the easy choice.
Strella also emphasized the ripple effect of having a steady quarterback. Colorado has a lot of talent at receiver, but those players matter only if the ball gets to them. Even an average season from Lewis, he said, would push the Buffs into bowl-game conversation, and anything better than average would lead to more wins.
There is another name worth watching, though, and that is Joseph Williams.
James Carnes believes Williams is in line for a big jump in Brennan Marion’s offense. The new coordinator is bringing his trademark Go-Go offense to Boulder, and Carnes sees Williams’ quickness and ability to create separation from the slot making him “the most reliable target for Julian Lewis.”
In Other News...
Brent Key Knows This Georgia Tech Opener Wont Feel Like Home
The season opener in Atlanta already had a little extra charge to it, and Deion Sanders return only adds to the feel around it. Georgia Tech coach Brent Key has been talking about the matchup as more than a standard September kickoff, with Sanders back in the city where he remains a towering sports figure and Colorado stepping into a setting that figures to draw plenty of attention before the first snap.
For the Buffaloes, the backdrop matters because so many of the faces on the roster have roots close to the game site. Colorado has 17 listed players from Georgia, including former five-star quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis, which helps explain why this one figures to look and sound a little different from a normal road trip. Even with the home crowd on hand for Georgia Tech, the atmosphere is expected to have a familiar edge for Colorado, and that is part of what makes this opener worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Post-Shedeur Quarterback Reset Just Got A Lot More Real
Colorados quarterback picture for 2026 is coming into focus, and its centered on Julian Lewis. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion said the redshirt freshman will start next season, putting the former five-star recruit in line to guide the Buffs after appearing in four games in 2025. For a program moving into life after Shedeur Sanders, that kind of clarity matters, especially with the offense set to lean on a young passer whose rise has been closely watched since he arrived.
Behind Lewis, the depth chart has another familiar name in Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson. Now entering his third college season after transferring from Utah, Wilson gives Colorado an experienced backup option if needed. The bigger question is how quickly Lewis settles into the role and how much of the offense Marion can build around him once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados New Defensive Identity Faces A Brutal Opening Test
Chris Marves first game as Colorados defensive coordinator arrives with a clear message attached to it: the Buffaloes want their defense defined by how it plays, not just by what it knows. Since his promotion, Marve has stressed communication, teamwork and relentless pursuit as the foundation of the unit, a shift that puts as much weight on attitude and cohesion as on the call sheet.
Georgia Tech makes for a harsh debut under that new approach. The Yellow Jackets bring a run-heavy challenge to Boulder, and running back Justice Haynes sits at the center of it, giving Colorado an immediate chance to see whether Marves identity takes hold when the game turns physical and the pressure starts coming downhill. [Read more 🡒]