During his Tuesday press conference, Deion Sanders confirmed what many saw coming: freshman QB Julian Lewis will make his first career start this weekend when Colorado travels to Morgantown to face West Virginia.
Lewis will replace senior Kaidon Salter, who has had an up-and-down season for the Buffaloes since transferring from Liberty. He's been ineffective the last two weeks in Colorado's blowout losses to Utah and Arizona. Lewis came in during the second half last week against Arizona and flashed his immense potential. Since Saturday, it felt inevitable, particularly with Colorado sitting at 3-6, that Lewis would take over the starting job this weekend.
Sanders was blunt, offering a two-word response to reporters when asked what went into his decision to start Lewis over Salter.
"Common sense," Sanders said.
Sanders did speak about what he wants to see from Lewis this week as the freshman makes the first of what Sanders - and all Colorado fans - hopes is many starts for the Buffs over the years.
"He has to be himself," Sanders said. "Just do what you been doing your whole life. You gotta let them know you are in control."
The Julian Lewis era is finally here for Colorado
As soon as the former 5-star QB signed with Colorado in the 2025 recruiting class, it was a matter of when, not if, the program was handed over to him. He was the most talented QB on the roster as soon as he arrived in Boulder, but it was always important to remember that he was just 17 years old when the season started. He was originally part of the 2026 recruiting class, but joined the growing trend of reclassification to get to college a year early.
He should be a high school senior this year. Instead, he'll start a Big 12 road game this Saturday in Morgantown.
Coach Prime - and Colorado fans - will need to exercise patience with the young signal-caller. Lewis will make some frustrating mistakes. He may turn the ball over. He may not see an open receiver or two throughout the game because he makes the wrong read. He'll probably take a few avoidable sacks.
But he'll also probably make some throws that Colorado fans haven't seen all year. It took him one drive to do that last week against Arizona when he hit Omarion Miller for a long touchdown pass.
As much as Colorado wants to win this Saturday to keep its slim hopes of a bowl game alive, the result isn't nearly as important as the process in beginning the development of the blue-chip QB.