Julian Lewis gives Coach Prime and Colorado reason for optimism in a lost season

There aren't many positives that can be taken out of the last two weeks for Colorado. To follow up last week's 46-point beatdown on the road at the hands of Utah, the Buffaloes got shellacked by 35 points at home against Arizona.

The loss dropped Colorado to 3-6, ending any realistic chances of Coach Prime leading the team to a bowl game in his third season in charge. Technically, the Buffs can still get there by winning out, but if you believe this team has a chance of winning three games in a row after back-to-back pitiful performances, well, I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale.

But there was reason for optimism amid a second straight week of embarrassment. Deion Sanders finally made the move to freshman QB Julian Lewis in the second half. It was the first action for Lewis since Week 2, and the 18-year-old immediately flashed his immense talent.

On the third possession of the second half, following back-to-back interceptions by Ryan Staub, Lewis gave the Colorado faithful who hadn't yet headed for the exits something to cheer about. The freshman QB delivered a strike down the field to Omarion Miller for a 59-yard touchdown:

Lewis ultimately threw for 121 yards on 9-of-17 passing and led two scoring drives. He showed the flashes that made him such a highly-ranked recruit, but also showed the growing pains that Colorado will have to live with.

Major questions surround Deion Sanders' handling of Julian Lewis

It's hard to rationalize what Coach Prime's plan has been for Lewis. After spending the offseason commenting that the freshman was neck-and-neck with Salter in the QB race, it was baffling to see him fall to QB3 and redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub to get more of a chance as the starter.

Lewis played in Week 2 against Delaware, and then didn't see action again until tonight against Arizona. At this point, it seemed like Sanders just wasn't willing to burn his redshirt. If he waited one more week, Lewis could start the final three games and preserve a year of eligibility.

Instead, he came in tonight with Colorado trailing 45-7 in a game that was long since over. That means if he starts the final three games - which he 100% should at this point - Coach Prime will have wasted a year of his eligibility.

If Lewis is the guy Sanders talked him up to be, he should have been playing by now. If the plan was to preserve his redshirt, putting him into this game made absolutely zero sense.

The decision will likely mean Sanders benches Lewis for the final game of the regular season to avoid wasting a year of his eligibility. But the freshman phenom should earn his first start next week on the road against West Virginia.

It's a lost season for Colorado, but Lewis taking over is enough reason for Buffs fans to keep watching.