Five biggest Colorado football storylines entering 2026 fall camp

Colorado football enters fall camp with plenty to sort through, but the biggest questions are easy to identify. After a 3-9 season, the Buffaloes are dealing with a new offense, a young quarterback and a roster that looks very different from a year ago.

Here are our top-five storylines entering fall camp.

1. Ezra Christensen's NCAA eligibility case

The most immediate storyline may not even come from practice. Defensive lineman Ezra Christensen is still waiting on NCAA clearance after his waiver was canceled, and that uncertainty affects Colorado's rotation before camp even starts. Christensen was brought in to be an impact piece up front after posting 11 tackles for loss and six sacks at New Mexico State, so his status matters both for depth and for expectations. If he is cleared, Colorado gets a proven interior defender. If not, the Buffs will need to shuffle the front quickly and rely on alternatives like Santana Hopper, Quincy Wiggins, and Samu Taumanupepe to fill a role they expected him to handle.

2. Brennan Marion's Go-Go offense

New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is changing the feel of the offense. His Go-Go system is built to be faster, more physical, and more balanced than what Colorado showed a year ago. It blends spread concepts with a downhill, two-back run game, which is important because the Buffs need a real ground attack to keep pressure off the quarterback. Camp will be the first real look at whether the players can handle the pace and whether the scheme can create the kind of rhythm Colorado lacked last season.

3. A possible Julian Lewis takeover

Redshirt freshman Julian Lewis is now the centerpiece. With the older stars gone, the offense is his, and camp will be about whether he can turn promise into wins. Lewis said he is finally reading defenses better instead of simply reacting, which is a big step after a freshman year that was uneven but still showed flashes. He will also have to build timing with a new group of receivers like DeAndre Moore Jr., and that chemistry matters in an offense that wants quick decisions and movement outside the pocket.

4. The offensive line needs to be settled

Colorado's offensive line is once again under the microscope. Larry Johnson III, a massive 6-foot-7, 350-pound tackle, is one of the biggest names to watch, and Bo Hughley is expected to be a key part of the front as well. But several jobs remain open, especially at guard and center, where Jayvon McFadden, Jose Soto and Demetrius Hunter are among the players battling for snaps. The Buffs need this group to come together fast because Marion's offense asks the line to handle tempo, movement and physical run blocking. If the five starters do not separate early into fall camp, the offense could spend much of the season still searching for its best combination.

5. The wide receiver and secondary battles

Colorado's wide receiver room looks deep again, even after another overhaul. Danny Scudero brings proven production, Kam Perry offers versatility and DeAndre Moore gives the Buffs another experienced target who can help Lewis settle in. Hykeem Williams is also a major name to watch because his talent has never been the issue; consistency has.

On defense, the secondary might be the most interesting unit on the roster. Coach Prime said this week he believes Boo Carter is a "first-rounder either this year or next year." Cree Thomas has already said it could be the best secondary in the country, and the safety tandem of Randon Fontenette and Naeten Mitchell gives Colorado a chance to be aggressive on the back end. If the nickel battle also breaks the right way, the Buffs could have a defense that fits Chris Marve's style much better than last year's group.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Five biggest Colorado football storylines entering 2026 fall camp