Colorado (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) at West Virginia (3-6, 1-5 Big 12)
When/where: 10 a.m. Saturday/Milan Puskar Stadium
TV/Radio: TNT/truTV/850 KOA
BetMGM Line: CU +5.5, 55.5 over/under
Weather: 58 degrees, partly sunny
Series History: Tied 1-1; West Virginia won 35-14 in Morgantown in 2009, CU won 17-14 in OT in Boulder in ’08
Three storylines
It’s JuJu Time: CU head coach Deion Sanders announced that freshman quarterback Julian Lewis will make his first career start on Saturday. The four-star recruit played briefly against Delaware at home in Week 2, then didn’t see the field again until last week, when he came in late in the game after starter Kaidon Salter (49.1 quarterback rating) and backup Ryan Staub (two passes, two interceptions) were both dreadful. It’s time for Lewis, the highest-rated QB ever signed by the Buffs, to show what he can do for struggling CU, which also quietly took away play-calling duties from Pat Shurmur before last week’s Arizona debacle.
Now or never: The Buffs’ hopes for a second straight bowl appearance are on thin ice. CU must win its final three games against West Virginia, Arizona State and Kansas State to become postseason eligible. The Buffs are an underdog this week and are sure to be underdogs in the final two games as well, the last of which is in Manhattan, Kan. After last year’s 9-3 regular season that had the Buffs in the Big 12 title chase and led to the Alamo Bowl — and Travis Hunter winning the Heisman — 2025 has been a huge step back.
Anemic offenses: Both WVU and CU rank near the bottom in offensive production in the Big 12, with the Mountaineers 14th at 23.2 points per game and CU 15th at 22 points. Only lowly Oklahoma State, last and winless in the conference, is worse at scoring. Whichever offense can find some juice early in Saturday’s game will drastically increase its odds of winning. The key matchup is the WVU run game (183.9 yards per game, 7th in Big 12) against CU’s reeling run defense (215.8 yards allowed per game, last in Big 12).
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: West Virginia 28, CU 17
If you were watching the past two weeks as CU got embarrassed by Utah and Arizona, this team has lost its fight. Forget about winning a game, much less three to qualify for a bowl. The goal for the Buffs from here on out should be to be competitive; see what Julian Lewis is capable of and if he has the talent to lead CU in 2026 (and perhaps keep him from transferring); and show some mettle on defense for a unit that’s been awful in four of the last five games. Those are the ways that Sanders’ lost third season can achieve some moral victories at its end.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: West Virginia 24, CU 20
It’s 2023 all over again! The Buffs are changing offensive play-callers midseason, the defense can’t tackle and discipline is all over the map. It could’ve been Pat Shurmur, Bret Bartolone or Dick Monfort calling plays against Arizona last week, and no one would’ve noticed the difference. That’s … not good. The Mountaineers are no great shakes, but Morgantown is a nasty place for newbies to get their feet wet. Wish Julian Lewis luck in keeping up, because WVA freshman QB Scotty Fox Jr. just ran for two scores in an upset win at Houston last weekend.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: West Virginia 27, CU 21
Pick any quarterback you want. Or any play-caller, for that matter. If the offensive line can’t get consistent push, and the defense can’t cause even modest disruption up front, this team is cooked. The Mountaineers just put up 45 points on previously ranked Houston in its own building. And they did it by piling up 246 yards on the ground, 65 of which came from their freshman quarterback. Not the best recipe for these Buffs.
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