Julian Lewis didn’t just have a big day against Weber State. He walked out of it with two honors and a stack of school records to match.
Colorado’s quarterback was named the Manning Award Star of the Week and the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Monday after steering the Buffaloes to a 52-21 win. Lewis was sharp from the jump, finishing 17 of 23 for 366 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He also ran for a score, giving him five total touchdowns responsible for, and he sat out the fourth quarter once the game was under control.
The numbers were loud enough on their own, but Lewis made history all over the stat sheet. Against Weber State, he set or tied at least 10 Colorado records, including the most passing yards in a quarter with 212 in the first, breaking Joel Klatt’s 211 against Texas A&M in 2005. He also tied the mark for most passing touchdowns in a quarter with three, and matched the school record for passing touchdowns in a half with four before owning the mark outright for a first half.
Lewis also tied and broke several freshman benchmarks. He set the school record for passing touchdowns in a game by a redshirt freshman with four, and by any freshman with four.
His 311.1 pass efficiency in the first half was the best ever in that span, and his five touchdowns responsible for in the half matched one record and set another outright. For the full game, his 265.0 pass efficiency rating was the best in program history for a quarterback with at least 20 attempts.
Colorado made sure Lewis got rolling early. The Buffs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions, needing just three plays, 129 yards and 27 seconds of game clock to do it. Lewis hit DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard touchdown on Colorado’s first offensive snap, then connected with Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score two possessions later.
Coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders said the fast start was intentional.
“Yes, it was, and we accomplished that goal.”
He was pleased with the production, too.
“Statistically, what was it? 17 of 23, 366, four touchdowns and no picks.
I'm happy. I'm happy,” Coach Prime added.
The Buffaloes finished with 578 yards of total offense, the most the program has posted in a game during the Coach Prime era. Colorado’s 42 first-half points were also an era high, and the 52 points matched the era best set in a 52-0 win over Oklahoma State in 2024.
Lewis, though, was quick to downplay the record chase.
“That's cool - having a couple records. But we're just trying to win the game,” Lewis said.
“You saw, we're still in that game. Those guys were out there competing against us, so we still got a lot to grow on.
Nobody cares about that 300 yards and whatever. That's just onto the next.”
He also gave credit to the people up front.
“I love my big guys,” Lewis said. “As y'all can see, we're sitting back there comfortable. The running game's hitting crazy, and all you can ask for as a quarterback is time to throw the ball, and they've been providing that every week.”
Through two games, Lewis has completed 31 of 50 passes for 490 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. He has not thrown a pick in seven career games.
Colorado, now 2-0, visits Northwestern on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT on FOX.
In Other News...
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Julian Lewis Just Gave Colorado Fans A Bigger Reason To Believe
Julian Lewis gave Colorado something to hang onto beyond a routine win over Weber State, and the early returns were hard to ignore. The freshman was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week after throwing for 366 yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes 52-21 victory, a performance that also produced multiple school records, including the most passing yards in the first quarter and the highest pass efficiency rating in a game with at least 20 attempts.
What makes the outing even more intriguing is how intentional it was. Head coach Deion Sanders said the plan centered on Lewis as a passer, and Lewis has yet to throw an interception in his college career. For Colorado, that combination of production, control and room to grow is exactly why this one felt like more than just a one-game burst. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados 2027 QB Plan Just Got More Complicated
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Even with Pooley on board, the picture is hardly settled. Colorados quarterback room for 2027 is still thin, and the staff is also weighing four-star recruit Andre Adams as part of its long-range plan. For a program trying to keep its options open at the most important spot on the field, the next move could matter as much as the first commitment did. [Read more 🡒]