Deion Sanders Names Freshman QB Amid Colorado Buffaloes' 3-6 Struggles

The Colorado Buffaloes football team, under head coach Deion Sanders in his third season, is struggling notably in 2025 with a 3-6 record and facing the real possibility of missing bowl eligibility following a heavy loss to Arizona. Key departures such as QB Shedeur Sanders and Heisman winner Travis Hunter have left a void, compounded by inconsistent performances from senior transfer QB Kaidon Salter, leading to a significant quarterback change with true freshman five-star Julian Lewis expected to start against West Virginia. Lewis, highly recruited and seen as the future of the program, showed promise during limited playtime, earning Sanders' cautious trust despite the team's overall offensive struggles, as Colorado ranks near the bottom in Big 12 total offense and scoring. Recruiting setbacks have also emerged as a major concern, highlighted by the loss of top-ranked five-star quarterback Kavian Bryant to Texas Tech, signaling challenges in maintaining momentum and attracting elite talent. The program's recent poor performances, lack of star players, and diminished excitement cast doubt on its ability to rebuild a winning culture or serve as a springboard to the NFL, which could impact player retention and future recruiting efforts. With three remaining games against unranked opponents, Colorado must improve significantly to salvage the season and restore confidence in Sanders' leadership and the program's trajectory.