Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis is recovering after a medical emergency at the school’s athletic facility sent him to the hospital, his father, T. Carlton Lewis, said in a statement posted to social media Thursday, Oct. 29.
“Yesterday, Julian experienced a medical emergency at the University of Colorado athletic facility and was promptly transported to the hospital. He is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support.
Please respect Julian and the Lewis family's privacy. We will have no further comment at this time,” reads the statement released by the Lewis family.
Lewis had already been listed as “Doubtful” on Wednesday’s availability report for Colorado’s game against Kansas State.
Before the medical emergency, he had started the first four games of the season for Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Lewis helped Colorado beat Georgia Tech and Weber State before the Buffaloes fell to Northwestern. He also started the first half of the loss to Baylor, then gave way to Isaac Wilson after Colorado went into the break trailing 10-3.
Across 3.5 games this season, Lewis threw for 733 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked eight times, and his rushing total sits at -45 yards with one touchdown.
Lewis arrived at Colorado as a four-star recruit after originally being committed to USC and coach Lincoln Riley. He also appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2025, but the Buffaloes preserved his redshirt.
Earlier in the week, Sanders was asked whether Lewis would return for the rest of the season, and he kept the answer close to the vest.
“That's on him. Great question, but that's on him,” Sanders responded.
Sanders also rejected the suggestion that he had handled Lewis unfairly while Wilson has directed the offense since the second half of the Baylor game.
“I don't treat people unfairly,” Sanders said. “I don't play games with young men and their careers or hate on folks.
If anything, I'm too forgiving. You have to understand that we may know more a little more than you do because we're inside the locker room and understands what happens including what clicks and what doesn't.
You guys on the outside think you see what goes on inside but you don't. And that's not a shot at any of you, but it's not for me to guess or assume.”
Colorado is set to release another availability report on Thursday and Friday, plus a final update 90 minutes before kickoff against Kansas State.
The Buffaloes enter Saturday’s Halloween matchup at home looking to end a five-game losing streak. Colorado and Kansas State are scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m.
MT on Oct. 31.
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