Deion Sanders Benches Colorado Quarterback Julian Lewis for Issac Wilson in Loss to Baylor
The Buffaloes continue to search for stability at the quarterback position.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders made another quarterback change during the Buffaloes' 23-13 loss to Baylor on Saturday, benching starter Julian Lewis in favor of Utah transfer Issac Wilson, the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Zach Wilson.
This marks another shift in Colorado's ongoing quarterback struggles following the departure of Shedeur Sanders. Lewis, a highly touted recruit, was given the reins of the offense this season with the aim of establishing stability after the team used three different starting quarterbacks in 2025 en route to a 3-9 record.
Lewis, a four-star recruit and the 10th-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class according to 247Sports, began the season with a promising performance, leading a game-winning drive in Week 1 against Georgia Tech. However, his subsequent play has faltered. Across three games prior to the Baylor matchup, Lewis had accumulated 609 passing yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions, completing 69 percent of his passes. Notably, he had not exceeded 200 passing yards against an FBS opponent.
During the first half of his Big 12 debut against Baylor in Waco, Lewis completed 11 of 16 passes for 75 yards. This performance prompted Sanders to make the switch at halftime.
Wilson entered the game and helped spur the offense, leading multiple scoring drives. He connected with junior receiver Joseph “JoJo” Williams for a 17-yard touchdown pass that tied the game early in the fourth quarter. In the second half, Wilson completed 12 of 25 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown, averaging 6.4 yards per pass, an improvement over Lewis's 4.7 yards per pass average in the first half.
Despite Wilson's efforts, the Buffaloes' defense could not contain Baylor quarterback D.J. Lagway, who guided the Bears to 10 unanswered points to secure the home victory. The loss dropped Colorado to a 2-2 record on the season.
The team's quarterback situation has been a persistent challenge for Sanders since he took over, with no clear answer found over 16 games and two offseasons. With No. 11 Texas Tech scheduled to visit Boulder next week, the Buffaloes face another significant challenge in determining their starting quarterback.