Buffs' season on the line in Julian Lewis' first start: West Virginia Preview

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis charges for a first down against the Arizona Wildcats last Saturday. (Photo by Jacob Hock/Sko Buffs Sports)

Fans taking their shirts off and swinging them in the air has become the official sign of a failing football team. The Colorado Buffaloes (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) reached that milestone Saturday as the team collapsed for the second week in a row, losing at home 52-17 to Arizona.

Throughout most of the season, it seemed like the matchup against West Virginia (3-6, 1-5) would give the Buffaloes an easy win. But after the Mountaineers upset No. 22 Houston 45-35 last week, CU enters the game as 6.5-point underdogs.

So as the flailing Buffs head east to the Appalachian Mountains, they face one last chance to save their season. Win, and keep a glimmer of hope for a bowl game. Lose, and hand head coach Deion Sanders his second losing season in three years at CU. 

At quarterback will be five-star freshman Julian “Juju” Lewis, making his first start of the year. The 18-year-old took the field for just the second time Saturday with the Buffs down 45-7. On his first drive, he threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Omarion Miller. But he’d finish the game completing 9 of 17 passes for 121 yards with no additional points.

In three years at Carrollton High School in Georgia, Lewis threw for 11,010 yards with 114 touchdowns and was ranked by Rivals as the No. 7 quarterback in the 2025 class. 

Sanders said Tuesday that his decision to start the freshman over Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub, who threw a combined three interceptions against Arizona, was “Common sense.” 

It will be the second game for new play-caller Brett Bartolone, the tight ends and passing game coordinator. USA Today reported Wednesday that offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was relieved of his play-calling duties following the loss to Utah.

As for the Mountaineers, the defense has allowed an average of 406.4 yards per game and has given up 33 touchdowns. But they’ve still managed 10 interceptions and forced six fumbles. 

Freshman Scotty Fox Jr. has become the driving force of the Mountaineers' offense. Against Houston, he threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 65 more. He’ll face a defense that’s allowed 105 points in two games.

The Buffs continue to struggle stopping the run game, which West Virginia has favored, going for 1,092 yards this year. In those same two losses, Colorado allowed 426 rushing yards.

They will also be missing key defensive backs RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers, while DJ McKinney is listed as doubtful according to Friday's player availability report. Safety Tawfiq Byard will also miss the first half due to a targeting call last week.

While Sanders made no players available this week to speak to the media, he did address the fan base, asking them to still believe in the team even though they have underperformed. 

“They deserve so much more than what we’re giving them right now,” Sanders said. “They deserve more.”

Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. MT Saturday and will air on TNT and HBO Max.