iStockphoto / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Julian Lewis shot an NIL ad while rumors swirl about his future at Colorado.
Julian Lewis remains a member of the Colorado football team despite rumors surrounding his future following a demotion on the depth chart. The quarterback was benched in Game 4 and has since been out of the lineup.
There are whispers that his absence is voluntary. Those claims allege that he refuses to play another game while cashing NIL checks.
Bro… JuJu’s camp told Deion & Co. he’s done. Sitting out the rest of the year, collecting the bag, and hitting the portal ASAP. That’s a fact.
— Moneyline Matt (@MoneylineMatt12) October 5, 2026
The narrative formed online is that he’s holding out to hit the transfer portal at season’s end. He will not take another snap at Colorado.
What’s fact and what’s fiction?
Julian Lewis was benched.
The passer started the year at QB1. He led a comeback effort in the season opener vs. Georgia Tech, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass on the final possession.
The Buffs then ripped off a 52-21 win over Weber State. Since, they’ve gone 0-3.
Lewis threw two interceptions in a loss to Northwestern. He was benched after the first half of a loss to Baylor the following week. The signal caller did not play this past Saturday vs. Texas Tech.
Replacement Isaac Wilson struggled in the loss to the Red Raiders, tossing three picks. Deion Sanders said Lewis was unavailable. It wasn’t the coaching staff’s decision.
“I would love for Juju to come in and tell you what happened. (I didn’t) bench Juju from first to third string. That’s not what went down. It didn’t happen like that.”
Those comments created speculation as to the absence. Did Julian Lewis refuse to play? What will his future look like in Boulder? Will he stay with the team?
We don’t have a ton of answers at the moment. There is a segment of the fanbase that believes he’s quit. Former player Charles Johnson noted that Lewis looked “removed” at practice this week, “both mentally and physically.”
With that said, he did not rule out the possibility that Lewis plays again in Boulder this year. He does not want to be the backup, but he has not shut it down completely.
“Given the instability of that position on this team right now, I think we’ll see all three (QBs) at some point again. Juju is the one that will have the largest leash and grace period if he decides to come back.”
Summing that interview up, Johnson believes Julian Lewis made the decision not to play last week. That would line up with Deion Sanders’ postgame comments.
He has not, however, removed himself from the team or shut down his season. Colorado has a bye week coming. Isaac Wilson struggled his last time out. Lewis could very well win the starting role back for the next game vs. Utah.
Sanders says the quarterback competition is open. We’ll see what happens next. Until then, the passer continues to cash NIL checks.
Colorado QB does NIL ad.
Behind the scenes in Boulder today with @Trackhawk_DT and @JulianLewis10 at their NIL content shoot for the @tacobell BuffsBox.
@mooreofdmo and @LefauLiona are up tomorrow! #LiveMas https://t.co/ftK8k393Eu
— Brendan Falvey (@bfalvey) October 5, 2026
Julian Lewis was seen filming a commercial for Taco Bell in Boulder this week alongside a teammate. He is still representing the school for online content. That suggests he’s not violated any terms of his NIL agreement.
Lewis is one of the most expensive players on the Colorado roster. His NIL valuation is set at $1 million by On3.
It would not make sense to pay a quarterback that refuses to play. We’ve seen other programs cut ties with players that have done the same in past seasons. In most of those cases, due to contract language, schools are off the hook financially.
The fact that Lewis remains in Boulder, is attending practice, and is continuing to pump out NIL content, suggests that there is a path the starting role. He hasn’t shut his season down. He has not informed anyone of a holdout or transfer.
Colorado has to believe it, too, if they’re willing to continue paying the signal caller.
So, this is where things currently stand.
Juju Lewis was benched. He did not play vs. Texas Tech last weekend, which was his decision, but the claims surrounding his refusal to take another snap are false.
There is a possibility he returns under center before season’s end. I’d bet he wins the starting role back in the near future.