The Julian Lewis chapter at Colorado may have reached its end much faster than anyone expected.
A week after the former five-star quarterback showed up as doubtful for the Buffs’ Week 9 matchup with Kansas State, his father, T. Carlton, explained Thursday morning why Lewis landed on the Big 12 player availability report for the first time this season.
“Yesterday, Julian experienced a medical emergency at the University of Colorado athletic facility and was promptly transported to the hospital,” T. Carlton Lewis posted on X. “He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayer and support.”
Lewis’ situation adds another twist to a season that had already moved sharply away from where it began. He was benched in Colorado’s Big 12 opener in Week 4 and has not played since.
Asked Tuesday whether Lewis would get another chance this season, Deion Sanders didn’t offer much beyond a blunt defense of his approach.
“That’s on him,” Deion Sanders said. “I don’t play games with young men in their careers and hate on folks.
If anything, I’m too forgiving and very kind. I don’t play those games with kids.
“You have to always understand that we may know a little more than you do. We understand what happens, what goes on, what clicks, what doesn’t and what fits. We get that.”
Sanders was pressed again Tuesday on whether he had seen Lewis fight to win back the starting job.
“If I answer that, you may say I’m taking a shot at a kid,” Deion Sanders said. “I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to go down that rabbit hole.”
For now, Sanders has stayed with Isaac Wilson, who has started three straight games since Lewis was benched. Wilson’s stat line has been rough - seven interceptions in those three starts - but Colorado appears to have limited options at the position.
The only other name in the mix is true freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne, leaving the Buffs in a quarterback situation that looks increasingly thin as the season moves on.
Coach Prime on conversations he’s had with Colorado QB Isaac Wilson: “I took you out (vs. OK State) because I was trying to save you from yourself.”
“I can see it in your eyes, it’s like you’re trying to get it all back at once and you can’t.” pic.twitter.com/IZhmbePiZ8
- Scott Procter (@ScottProcter_) October 28, 2026
Saturday’s game still offers Colorado a clear opening. Kansas State has already ruled out starting quarterback Avery Johnson, while backup Jacob Knuth is listed as doubtful after starting in last week’s loss to Arizona State. That means the Buffs will be facing a third-string quarterback at home.
With Colorado sitting at 2-5 and riding a five-game losing streak, there’s no gray area here: this is a must-win game for Sanders and his team.
And if Lewis’ time in Boulder is truly finished, it ends after just six starts, a run that never found the footing many around the program once imagined.
In Other News...
Colorados First Big 12 Win May Hinge On One Kansas State Decision
Kansas States quarterback situation could end up shaping Colorados best chance at a first Big 12 win. Avery Johnson has been the Wildcats engine on both sides of the ball in the sense that he leads the team in passing and rushing, and Colorados defense knows the assignment is as much about containment as anything else. The Buffaloes want to keep him in the pocket and make the game about structure, not improv, because when Johnson is moving freely, Kansas States offense tends to travel with him.
The uncertainty only deepens because Kansas State already has other quarterback injury issues, leaving the Wildcats to sort out how much they can ask of Johnson even if hes available. He missed last weeks game against Arizona State, and his status for this matchup remains unclear, which matters a lot for a Colorado team still looking for that first Big 12 breakthrough. If he does suit up, the questions shift from whether he can go to how aggressive Kansas State will let him be, and that may be the biggest variable of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has The Edge But Colorado Still Brings One Real Threat
Colorado heads into its Oct. 31 matchup with Kansas State carrying a five-game losing streak and the lowest Football Power Index rating in the Big 12, which is hardly the kind of backdrop any team wants this late in the season. The gap in the numbers is real, too, with Kansas State sitting in a much stronger position in the league pecking order and with a clearer path toward bowl eligibility as the schedule winds down.
Still, Colorado does have one area that can keep the game interesting if it can find a way to lean into it. The Wildcats have the more complete profile, but the Buffaloes will be looking for any edge they can create against a Kansas State attack that runs through quarterback Avery Johnson and a backfield featuring Rodney Fields and Joe Jackson. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Just Got A More Affordable Path Into Folsom Field
Colorados next Big 12 home date brings Kansas State to Folsom Field, and the matchup is drawing a range of ticket options for fans trying to get in the building. Official prices start at $88, while several secondary-market listings are showing seats at different points around the stadium depending on location and seller, giving buyers a few ways to approach the game.
For fans looking for more than a standard seat, there are also premium game-day experiences available at higher prices, including add-ons tied to the south end zone and sideline access. As always with live-event tickets, the final checkout total can vary more than the initial listing suggests, so it pays to compare platforms before committing. [Read more 🡒]