Colorado coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Tuesday that Isaac Wilson will start at quarterback again when the Buffaloes face Utah on Saturday night. Wilson, a transfer from Utah, will be making his second consecutive start in what is shaping up to be a tough test against his former team.
Sanders acknowledged the challenges Wilson faced in his last game, where he threw three interceptions in the second half of Colorado’s 29-7 loss to Texas Tech. “Make sure you throw the ball to the guys on our team,” Sanders said he told Wilson recently, offering the advice with a sense of humor. Despite the turnover issues, Sanders insisted Wilson is “up to the task” of leading the offense against the No. 11-ranked Utes, who remain unbeaten at 5-0 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Wilson started seven games as a freshman at Utah before transferring to Colorado. After taking over the starting job from Julian Lewis, who struggled in the first four games, Wilson is now under pressure to lead a Buffaloes offense that has struggled mightily this season. Colorado comes into Saturday’s game with a 2-3 record, having lost three straight, and ranks near the bottom nationally in several offensive categories. They sit 122nd out of 138 major college football teams in scoring offense, averaging just 18.6 points per game.
The Buffaloes also rank 133rd in red zone offense with a 64% success rate, 105th in third-down conversions at 35.6%, and 118th in fourth-down conversions at 35.7%. These numbers underline Colorado’s difficulty in sustaining drives and scoring when they get close to the end zone.
Receiver Joseph Williams spoke on Tuesday about Wilson’s leadership qualities. “He’s a great leader, so I feel like this week is going to be a real big week for him,” Williams said, signaling confidence in the quarterback despite recent struggles.
Sanders has rotated through four different quarterbacks this season, following the departure of his son Shedeur Sanders, who last played for Colorado in 2024. Shedeur led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 finish that year, a level of stability the team has not found since. Sanders’ record against Power Four conference opponents since then stands at 2-12, reflecting continued difficulties in high-profile matchups. By comparison, his predecessor Karl Dorrell was 3-12 against these teams before being dismissed in 2022.
Despite the offensive woes and quarterback issues, Sanders remains loyal to offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, now five games into the job. “I believe in him,” Sanders said, dismissing any notion of changing play-callers as he did last year. The coaching staff appears committed to working through this rough patch.
There is also the possibility that another quarterback could see playing time soon. Freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne, a 6-foot-3 dual-threat recruit from Lehi, Utah, might enter the rotation. A recent social media post from receiver Quanell Farrakhan, who switched his jersey number from 14 to 5—the same number Sweetwyne wears—suggests the coaching staff plans to use both players, since two players cannot share a jersey number on the field simultaneously.
The Buffaloes’ upcoming game against Utah looms as one of the toughest challenges on their schedule, with Wilson set to lead the offense against his former teammates once again.
According to Yahoo Sports.
