It’s been a disappointing season for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. They sit at 3-8 with a road game against high scoring Kansas State left to play, so there won’t be a bowl game or the extra practice time that comes with it. Instead, Sanders and his staff will focus on trying to play spoiler against the Wildcats – who need a victory to become bowl eligible – and then on the upcoming high school early signing day on December 3rd and the opening of this year’s only Transfer Portal window, a 10-day period that opens on January 2nd .
Ju Ju Lewis Won’t Start at Kansas State
In the meantime, Sanders made a surprising announcement about this quarterback situation for the game in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday morning. After starting the past two games (and having played as a reserve in two earlier contests) true freshman QB Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis will sit the game out on Saturday so that he can preserve his redshirt season. Had he played in more than four games this season, Lewis would have used up his first season of college eligibility. Now he’ll still be a freshman, eligibility-wise, in 2026.
Ironically, Lewis bumped up his high school graduation by a year so he could enroll in college early. His redshirt season, when he passed for 589 yard in those four appearances, will conclude with four touchdowns and no interceptions, completing just over 55% of his passes. That will now take the place of what would have been his final season at the high school level.
Sanders said it was his decision, not the quarterback’s.
“I’ve made a decision,” Sanders told the media near the end of his final weekly press briefing of the season. “Ju Ju is going to redshirt. That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, what’s best for this wonderful university that’s given me this tremendous opportunity and him an opportunity. I think for the program, it’s best for everyone. But mainly, it’s great for him.”
Lewis would have chosen to play
“I’m not going to say he was happy, because he’s a competitor, he wants to compete he wants to play,” Sanders continued. It’s not like he came to me (and asked out), he’s not built like that. That kid wants to play, he wants to compete, and I love him for it. So it’s on me.”
Colorado will turn back to senior transfer Kaidon Salter, who started the first two games of the season, and then the next five before relinquishing the job. Backup sophomore Ryan Staub started at Houston in week 3, and has played in four games to this point.
Lewis has said earlier that he was happy in Boulder and not interested in transferring, so going into signing and portal season, quarterback doesn’t appear to be a top priority for the Buffaloes.
Lewis part of what Sanders said is a “core” on offense that he’s pleased with and will look to build around for next season. Additions will come both from the high school ranks in time for next season.
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