Julian Lewis done at Colorado? The latest on the five-star quarterback before Utah

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Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders comes out of the bye week with more questions than after answers. But one thing Coach Prime knows for sure is who will be the Buffs starting quarterback on Saturday night.

Utah transfer Isaac Wilson will start for Sanders against his former team at home. This comes after Julian Lewis was benched nearly a month ago following a point against Baylor where he struggled to move the ball.

Sanders said at his weekly news conference Tuesday that Wilson is "up to the task," but did seem to have a parting shot while saying he would start. "Make sure you throw the ball to the guys on our team," Sanders said he told Wilson recently.

Wilson threw three interceptions in the last game against Texas Tech. Sanders' comment seemed lighthearted. However, nothing about the Buffs right now seems to be all that serious. The quarterback situation has been no joking matter, and should have Coach Prime concerned.

Lewis, who was projected to be Colorado's next great quarterback, now seems to be out of commission with very little clues as to what his future looks like in Boulder. Has the former five-star passer been shut down and waiting to enter the transfer portal? That's the biggest question after Sanders benched Lewis.

There was speculation whether Lewis would leave Colorado with the mass exodus of talent during the offseason. He chose to stay for the 2026 season, but there was a thought about whether that was the wrong decision. Six games into the season and Lewis isn't playing or being developed in Brennan Marion's Go-Go offense. Now CU faces Utah, which is 5-0 and ranked No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

Wilson started seven games as a freshman for Utah before he transferred to Colorado. The Buffs fell to 2-3 with their third loss in a row. They're winless in Big 12 play and won't be a favorite in any of the remaining games this season.

How bad has the quarterback situation been under Deion Sanders? Since the end of the 2024 season, when his son, Shedeur Sanders, left for the NFL, nothing has been consistent. He's started four different quarterbacks over the past 17 games.

Colorado ranks 122nd overall in FBS with 18.6 points per game. The average is just over 10 points per game without including the win over FCS opponent Weber State. The Buffs are in the bottom ten for red zone offense (64%) at 133rd overall. They're also 118th in fourth-down conversion percentage (35.7%),

Sanders and his staff are running out of options at quarterback. If Lewis is out, freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne, a 6-foot-3 dual-threat recruit from Lehi, Utah, is left. This is not a good sign with half the season left and the last remaining five-star not getting any time under center.

Colorado hosts No. 11 Utah on Saturday night at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.