Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis was hospitalized after a medical emergency at the team's athletic facility, and his family says he is now recovering. The sophomore signal-caller has not taken a snap for the Buffaloes since being pulled at halftime of their Sept. 26 loss to Baylor, and his latest health scare leaves his status uncertain heading into Colorado's game against Kansas State.
Lewis experienced the medical emergency at the University of Colorado athletic facility and was quickly taken to the hospital, according to On3, which first reported the family's statement. The family said Lewis “is recovering and thankful to his medical team, teammates, and Colorado fans for their prayers and support,” while also requesting privacy and saying it would make no further comment at this time, per the same report. Neither the family nor the school has disclosed what caused the emergency.
No Details on the Nature of the Emergency
As of Thursday, the team had not given any details about Lewis' underlying health issue, according to Sporting News. That outlet also reported that Colorado listed Lewis as doubtful for Saturday's matchup against Kansas State, scheduled for noon in Boulder, according to the University of Colorado Athletics game center.
The hospitalization adds another layer of uncertainty to a season that had already sidelined Lewis from the starting lineup. He started Colorado's first four games before Isaac Wilson took over the job for the last three, a timeline confirmed by CBS Sports. Lewis last played in Colorado's 23-13 loss at Baylor on Sept. 26, per the Sacramento Bee's reporting on the Sacramento Bee.
A Rough Season for the Buffaloes
Colorado enters the Kansas State game at 2-5 overall and has dropped five consecutive games, a skid that has coincided with Wilson's three starts, all of which ended in losses. The station's report also noted that Colorado has lost 14 of its last 19 games dating back to last season, a stretch that underscores the program's broader struggles under head coach Deion Sanders.
Through four games this season, Lewis completed 61 of 95 passes for 733 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, according to his profile with University of Colorado Athletics. In his career at Colorado spanning eight appearances, he has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,322 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, per CBS Sports. Colorado's roster and CBS Sports differ on how Lewis was ranked coming out of high school, with the team describing him as a five-star recruit and unanimous top-10 quarterback in the Class of 2025, while CBS Sports listed him as the No. 10 quarterback in that same cycle.
Sanders Weighs In Before the Health News Broke
Earlier in the week, before Lewis' hospitalization became public, Sanders addressed questions about whether the quarterback could reclaim the starting job. Speaking with reporters, per a report cited by USA Today, Sanders said Lewis' chances of starting again are up to Lewis himself, and insisted he does not treat players unfairly or play games with their careers. That same USA Today report noted Colorado ranks third nationally in penalties per game, averaging 9.4, a statistic that has compounded the team's on-field troubles this season.
What exactly sidelined Lewis from the facility remains unknown, and his family has not indicated when or whether it will share more information. For now, the Buffaloes face Kansas State, which enters the matchup at 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, without clarity on whether their former starter will be available in the near future.
