Julian Lewis’s 2025 performance didn’t live up to the hype he carried into Boulder. Even Deion Sanders’ Colorado didn’t match expectations because of its offensive struggles. But ahead of the 2026 season, the Buffs’ head coach brings in Brennan Marion with his go-go offense, making sure of a comeback. In fact, Sanders has already set the standard for Lewis.

“30 points per game is our threshold,” said Sanders during his Friday appearance.

Undoubtedly, Lewis has potential despite the two games the Buffs lost when he played as a starter last season, and that is backed up by his high school record. With an exceptional 39–4 record as a 3-year starter, Julian Lewis made waves at Carrollton. He even ranked 7th all-time in state history for passing yards and 5th for TDs.

But potential alone can’t help to make a breakout year, and that’s where a new OC could be a secret weapon for the Buffs. Even Sanders opened up about why Marion’s hiring stands out.

“The points per game. Everybody I interviewed, they averaged 30 points per game. When we score 30 points per game, we win when we don’t, we lose. When we hold people under a certain number as well, we win. So that was huge. So everyone we brought in to interview, that was that. But I need toughness, their mentality, points per game,” added the Buffs head coach.

Now, with Marion’s arrival, Lewis gets a way to get rid of last year’s struggle due to a lack of running-game support. In that case, the new OC’s go-go offense has two RBs lined up next to each other on one side of the QB. That force defenses into difficult alignment choices. Despite its spread appearance, the system prioritizes a physical, “downhill” rushing attack that averages high yardage and opens up big-play opportunities.

With that fast-paced system built on a relentless run game and deep vertical shots, Marion has explicitly stated it does not require a running QB. In that scenario, it relies on Lewis’s decision-making and arm talent. Even for Lewis, the scheme looked exciting from the start.

“Man, it looked beautiful to me,” said the redshirt freshman QB.

Last season, Lewis, the projected 2026 QB1, saw limited action, appearing in four games, and he completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards. Surely, that 2025 opportunity was a blessing to the QB, and even he confessed that, but adapting to Marion’s dynamic system hasn’t been simple. Still, to Julian Lewis, the biggest leap in his development has come mentally.

“I mean, coach Marion brought in this Go-Go system and it’s been crazy to learn and try to read the defenses with all the progressions and things like that but honestly, it’s been awesome learning it,” said Lewis.

As of now, Lewis is learning to process defenses and manage multiple progressions in the go-go offense. With that, his skills could get more polished under the new OC’s guidance. But there is a flip side to this QB’s 2026 season.

ESPN tells a different story about Julian Lewis

Following a redshirt freshman campaign that flashed promise but also exposed growing pains, Julian Lewis has officially taken hold of the QB1 role in Boulder. However, national perception hasn’t fully caught up to the hype.

In his latest preseason evaluation, Bill Connelly ranked Lewis No. 62 out of 68 Power 4 QBs, writing, “Lewis was good in one late-season start (over West Virginia) and lost in another (a blowout defeat to Arizona State), but he has tools.”

In fact, the Colorado head coach trusts Lewis when it comes to a leadership role. “That first snap against Georgia Tech, he’ll (Lewis) be coming around that mountain,” said Sanders. “He’ll be straight.”

Despite that, a 55% completion rate of the former 5-star reflects both his inexperience and the challenges he faced. In that case, one notable point is Lewis did not commit a single turnover despite playing behind a shaky O-line. Now, with go-go offense, the young QB could get a solid chance for enhancing his numbers.

With that production increment, Deion Sanders’ Colorado may bounce back in the 2026 season after a 3-9 season.