Colorado expected to make QB change to Julian Lewis vs. West Virginia
Colorado has already made several quarterback changes, whether it be their starter going in or in-game decisions, this season. The Buffaloes could now be set to make another per the latest reporting on the position in Boulder.
Per On3’s Pete Nakos, Colorado is expected, with nothing yet made official within the program or publicly, to turn to Julian Lewis as their starter for their next game this weekend against West Virginia on the road in Morgantown. It would be the first start of his collegiate career, with a pair of appearances made to this point of the fall for the Buffs.
This comes amidst quarterback questions that have been ongoing all season at CU. The Buffs have started Kaidon Salter for eight of their nine games and Ryan Staub for one in a loss against Houston. In total on the year, Salter is posting 63.1% completion for 155.3 yards per game, ten touchdown throws, and six interceptions, while Staub is at 53.5% completion for 106.8 yards per game, three touchdown passes, and four interceptions.
Now, the latest shift came during, and now, with this, after, the 52-17 blowout loss to Arizona at Folsom Field on Saturday. Salter, being 11-15 (73.3%) for 49 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, as well as Staub, being picked off twice on his lone two pass attempts to start the second half, were each replaced by Lewis in the third quarter of the loss to the Wildcats. He would finish being 9-17 (52.9%) for 121 yards and a touchdown, while also having a 15-yard rush.
With that, Lewis has made two collegiate appearances versus Delaware, in the second game of the season in the first week of September, and now two months later against Arizona. He is at 52.4% completion as a reserve in those games for 129 passing yards in total and the touchdown.
Lewis has been expected to be the future of the program at quarterback since his commitment. He was one of the top recruits in this most recent cycle in 2025. Lewis, a product out of Carrollton, finished as a Top-60 recruit, being in the Top-10 among quarterbacks and players out of the state of Georgia, and a four-star prospect. That’s according to Rivals’ Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
There are still six days until Colorado has that early kickoff against West Virginia. It looks, though, that Lewis will be their starter at that point against the Mountaineers.
