Deion Sanders still hasn’t tipped his hand on Colorado’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s showdown with No. 12 Texas Tech at Folsom Field.
After the Buffaloes’ loss to Baylor, Sanders made the move to bench Julian “JuJu” Lewis and go with Isaac Wilson in the second half. This week, though, he’s not ready to lock anything in yet.
“I haven’t talked to JuJu. I’ve talked to Isaac.
Kid is excited about the possibilities. Excited about, stood up in the meeting and really talked to the team about this and that and challenged them in many ways, so I’m proud of that young man.
I really am," said Sanders.
He also pushed back on the idea that the decision has already been made.
"I don’t know. I know some people are running with the narrative that it’s already decided.
I think I’m the one who makes the decision," Sanders said when asked about who will start in week 5. "I don’t know where they get that from, but they didn’t get it from me.
So, we gonna see how practice plays out this week."
The numbers from Baylor show why the conversation matters. Lewis went 11 of 16 for 75 yards in the first half. Wilson, the Utah transfer, finished his half by completing 12 of 25 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Even with Wilson giving Colorado a lift, the Buffaloes couldn’t close the deal. They went just 3 for 15 on third down and failed on both of their fourth-down tries. Still, Colorado outgained Baylor, picked up more first downs and held the ball longer.
Sanders said he still believes in both Wilson and freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne.
"Isaac had a great spring, by the way. I don't know if you guys remember that.
Isaac had a great, great spring. So if he gets the nod, I feel full all out that he's gonna do his thing.
Sweetwyne as well, he threw a touchdown at the end of practice today with a touchdown. . . but he did his doggon thing. I love what he brings to the table because he's athletic, he's energetic, and he can run and pass.
He can do both. He's dual," said Sanders.
Colorado and Texas Tech are set to kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, Oct. 3, with the quarterback decision still hanging over the week.
In Other News...
Colorado Fans Face A Tougher Price To See Texas Tech
The trip to Boulder is shaping up as one of the pricier ones on Colorados home schedule, with the Buffaloes set to host Texas Tech at Folsom Field in a Big 12 matchup that has drawn plenty of attention on the secondary market. Tickets are already available starting around $100, and the official range runs from roughly $100 to $303, putting this one among the more expensive remaining home games for Colorado.
Texas Techs No. 11 ranking is doing plenty to drive the demand, but so are the extra layers around the game itself. Colorado has tagged the matchup as both Homecoming and a Stripe Out, a combination that tends to make a Saturday feel bigger than the standings alone and helps explain why fans hoping to be there may need to pay up. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Captain Sends Clear Message Before Colorado Test
After Texas Techs 49-14 win over Sam Houston State, captain Ben Roberts made it clear the Red Raiders are already shifting their attention to the bigger test ahead. The linebacker said the challenge now is making sure what shows up in practice carries over when the games count, with film study and preparation at the center of that push as Colorado comes into focus.
Roberts also pointed to teammate Brock Golwas as part of the reason the defense has been able to settle in, and he noted his own role on that side of the ball this season. For a Texas Tech team looking to build on a sharp opening performance, the next step is less about what the tape looked like in practice and more about whether that standard can survive the jump into conference-level pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Hit Still Looms As Colorado Waits On Key Receiver
DeAndre Moore Jr. left the Baylor game after taking a hard hit and created an uneasy sideline moment for Colorado, choosing to walk off under his own power rather than be carted away. He did not return, and the scene was enough to rattle teammates in the moment as he later described their reaction to the injury. Moore also said he remains optimistic about the season even after the recent losses.
What Colorado and Texas Tech are still waiting on is the bigger picture around Moores availability. There has been no official diagnosis, and his status for the upcoming matchup has not been updated, leaving one of the Buffs' key receiver situations hanging as game week approaches. For a team trying to steady itself, the uncertainty around Moore is now one more thing to monitor. [Read more 🡒]