Deion Sanders knows as well as anyone that the days of a Colorado quarterback throwing the ball 40-plus times a game are long gone.
That’s something Shedeur Sanders did a whopping 13 times during his career as a Buff. It’s not that Colorado second-year QB Julian Lewis isn’t capable of putting the team on his back, it’s just that the 2026 Buffs have a different identity nowadays.
“It’s different now because we had to go with our strengths,” Deion Sanders said on the Colorado Football Coaches Show. “Once upon a time, we threw the heck out of the ball. It was fun, exciting and you were on the edge of your seat. Now, you try to change and have some balance so we had to flip the script a little bit.
“We’re able to do both but right now at this point in the season, we’re leaning heavy on the run.”
Instead of winning with skill position players and a high-flying passing attack, Colorado earned a Week 1 win over Georgia Tech by dominating in the trenches. The Buffs won the time of possession battle (34:09 to 25:51), rushed for more yards than the Yellow Jackets (183 to 51) and had a drive where they ran the ball on 15 consecutive plays.
Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense allows the Buffs to be multiple both in their approach and their personnel groupings. Tight ends and fullbacks combined to play 130 snaps for Colorado in Week 1 even without starting TE Zach Atkins (knee) in the lineup.
The big boys up front helped the Buffs run for 183 yards which is the third-highest total in the Deion Sanders era at Colorado. For only the third time in the Deion Sanders era and just the fifth time this decade, three running backs (Damian Henderson, Micah Welch, Jaquail Smith) rushed for over 40 yards.
“All we heard about was Georgia Tech and their running backs,” Colorado RBs coach Johnnie Mack said Wednesday. “It was like, what about our running backs? Those guys took that to heart and we wanted to show people that it’s a new year.”
It’s certainly a new year for Colorado, who had the second-worst rushing attack in the Big 12 last season. Although the Buffs’ new offensive identity is to be a physical, run-first unit, it doesn’t mean they’ll abandon the passing game.
Julian Lewis is still a talented, young QB with a bright future and he showed his clutch factor on the game-winning drive vs. Georgia Tech. He has also already set a Colorado record with the longest streak (110 passing attempts) to open a career without an interception in program history.
Danny Scudero (foot) and Kam Perry (elbow) were two of the Buffs’ most exciting transfer additions this offseason but the veteran WRs combined to play just 21 snaps in Week 1. As they get fully healthy and better acquainted with Lewis, this passing game will begin to take flight.
Until then, Colorado’s new identity will keep it in just about any game it plays.
“It can be different from game to game,” Deion Sanders said. “If you’re a team that prides yourself on stopping the run, we can throw the ball, too. We have to get to that point where we’re consistent with that.
“Or if you’re a team that’s a little lackadaisical in the run, we’re going to run it down your throat.”
Deion Sanders and the Colorado football team host Weber State (1-1) in Week 2 for the 2026 home opener at Folsom Field.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.
