Deion Sanders didn’t hide from the biggest issue that haunted Colorado last season. At the 2026 Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas, the Buffaloes coach admitted he mishandled the quarterback situation after Shedeur Sanders left for the NFL, and he made it clear he sees that as a turning point in a 3-9 season that never found its footing.
“I made a big mistake, man,” Sanders said during an ESPN appearance. “You got to understand it.
I’ve coached my son my whole entire life. So everything was like, compared to that.
It’s hard to get.”
He later expanded on how that experience reshaped his view of the position.
“That’s why they make the most money in the NFL and college NILs as well. But I never had that thought process until a season ago," said Sanders.
Colorado’s quarterback spot became a weekly storyline in 2025, and the rotation never gave the offense a chance to settle. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter started nine games, freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis made two starts as an 18-year-old, and Ryan Staub also got on the field. The constant movement under center kept the offense from building momentum, and the results showed up in stalled drives and missed opportunities.
Now the picture is different, but not settled. Lewis is the only quarterback from that group still in the mix, and he enters 2026 as the likely starter.
The former five-star recruit has the talent to become the long-term answer, but Colorado needs him to turn that promise into command and production. A full offseason is supposed to help him get there.
He’ll have competition around him. Utah transfer Isaac Wilson brings experience, while freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne adds another talented option with upside. Sweetwyne drew extra attention earlier this year when teammates selected him ahead of Lewis in a player-led intrasquad draft, a move that sparked discussion about Lewis’ leadership presence.
Lewis didn’t bite when that topic came up at media days.
“Next question,” he said. “That’s just what they did. I didn’t pick.”
Sanders said he wants patience with Lewis and believes the quarterback has made progress this offseason. His message was that Colorado should let the process unfold instead of demanding instant perfection.
“Let him come in, let him grow into that and just let him play the game,” Sanders said. “Allow Brendan (Marion) to do what he does.”
Sanders’ reference to his new offensive coordinator, Brennan Marion, as “Brendan" was one of the more notable moments from his appearance, but the bigger takeaway was straightforward: Colorado is trying to move past the chaos of 2025 and build something steadier around a young quarterback.
That effort gets tested quickly. The Buffaloes open the season at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3, and that game will provide an early read on whether the changes on offense and inside the locker room are taking hold.
If Lewis develops into the job and the quarterback room finally settles down, Colorado could look a lot more stable than it did a year ago. Sanders’ comments were an admission, but they also underscored how much the Buffs understand the importance of getting that position right.
In Other News...
Julian Lewis Just Raised A Troubling Question About Colorados QB Development
Julian Lewis spent his true freshman season learning what life looks like when the college game starts moving faster than the prep level, and Colorado is now trying to make sure that lesson comes with some structure. The Buffaloes overhauled their staff after a 2025 season in which the offense never found much rhythm, bringing in Brennan Marion to run the attack and giving the program a fresh start on that side of the ball.
The bigger concern is what Lewis own comments suggest about how he was being developed. Colorado needs its young quarterback to grow into a more complete operator, not just a talented arm, and the new coaching setup is clearly built to push him in that direction. With Chris Marve also joining the staff on defense, the Buffs are spending the offseason trying to reset the whole operation, but the quarterback question may be the one that matters most when 2026 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Just Changed The Pressure On Colorados New QB
Deion Sanders latest update on Colorado came with a reminder that the Buffaloes rebuild is about more than just the quarterback room. As he continues his own recovery from bladder cancer, Sanders has been talking about restoring the programs competitiveness while also easing the burden on Julian Lewis, the young starter who is stepping into a much bigger role than most players his age are asked to handle. The message around Boulder is clear: the offense needs to be steadier, the quarterback needs better protection, and the new pieces around him have to help carry some of the load.
One of those pieces is receiver Danny Scudero, who Sanders has pointed to as an important offensive presence as Colorado adjusts under new coordinator Brennan Marion. The scheme itself is changing, too, with the Buffaloes leaning into a different look and trying to create more structure for Lewis rather than asking him to do everything. Sanders has been careful not to overstate what the freshman needs to be right away, but the way he talks about Scudero and the new system suggests Colorado is trying to make the job as manageable as possible while still expecting the offense to take a real step forward. [Read more 🡒]
Danny Scudero Sounds Ready To Be Colorados Next Must-Watch Weapon
Danny Scudero arrived at Colorado with the kind of confidence the Buffaloes can use in a receiver room that has been reshuffled and reloaded again. The San Jose State transfer spoke at Big 12 media days about how eager he is for the season, his place in the offense and the chemistry he has been building with teammates, while also showing plenty of appreciation for Brennan Marions system and the way it is designed to put playmakers in position to make an impact.
Scudero also made clear he has a chip on his shoulder after being left off the preseason All-Big 12 team, a slight he believes he should have avoided. Colorados passing game is getting some added optimism from the return of healthy DeAndre Moore Jr. and Joseph Williams, and Scuderos arrival only adds to the sense that there are more options emerging around the Buffaloes offense than there were a year ago. [Read more 🡒]