When JuJu Lewis makes his starting debut on Saturday for the Colorado Buffaloes, he’ll be the least experienced quarterback on the field.
Just barely, though.
Like Lewis, West Virginia’s Scotty Fox Jr. is also a true freshman and the two will lead their teams during a matchup in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Saturday (10 a.m. MT, TNT).
“Freshman vs. freshman,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said. “We got a freshman that’s going to start for us. They got a freshman that did some wonderful things a week ago.”
Lewis, a five-star recruit in the 2025 class, came off the bench to throw for 121 yards and a touchdown in a 52-17 loss to Arizona on Saturday.
Fox, meanwhile, began the year fifth on the Mountaineers’ depth chart, but due to injuries became the starter two weeks ago. He’ll make this third start Saturday.
Fox threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns in his starting debut against TCU on Oct. 25, a 23-17 loss. Last week, he threw for 157 yards and a touchdown and ran for 65 yards and two touchdowns to lead West Virginia to a 45-35 upset of No. 22 Houston.
“I thought he played pretty well, especially for a true freshman,” West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He’s growing up. He’s taken steps in. He played beyond his years, I think, in the last two games. You wouldn’t think he’s a true freshman that got thrown, thrust into that role.”
While Lewis will be the third true freshman to start a game at quarterback for CU in the last four years (Owen McCown in 2022, Ryan Staub in 2023), Fox is the first true freshman QB to start for the Mountaineers since 1952.
Sanders was impressed with Fox’s performance against Houston.
“He did some good things; ran the ball, threw the ball,” Sanders said. “Made some good decisions, key decisions, key plays in certain situations that he made.
“But, the defense, they made some great plays as well to put him in those situations. So I saw a team effort, not just a singular guy’s effort, but they did some good things for him and with him to stay in his comfort zone.”
On the season, Fox has completed 59.1% of his passes (52-of-88) for 623 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also rushed 44 times for 145 yards (3.3-yards per carry average) and three TDs.
CU has struggled with dual threat quarterbacks this season, including Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, BYU’s Bear Bachmeier and Utah’s Byrd Ficklin.
Positive trend?
Despite getting blown out in back-to-back weeks – a dramatic change from the first seven games when they were competitive every week – Sanders he believes things are trending in the right direction behind the scenes for the Buffs.
“I say this every week and I know it seems strange because we go out there and play like garbage, but they’re practicing right, man,” Sanders said. “They’re fighting. The things I challenge them with in the morning meetings, they’re accountable. They’re accountable to them. The coaches are accountable for what we’re doing and that’s on us.
“The way they’re performing is on us, it’s not on them. I think we’ve got to do a better job of putting them in the right situations to make the plays that they need to make. And they got to give a little effort as well, a little more effort, as well in certain areas.”
Notable
Sanders, who has battled bladder cancer and blood clots this year, said his health issues aren’t impacting CU’s play. “That ain’t got nothing to do with the win and loss column,” he said. “I ain’t playing. I wish to the world I could. Especially corner right now, we’re short. I wish I could go out there and play some corner right now. I got to do a better job in this whole thing. That’s on me. So, it has nothing to do with my health.” … CU’s top cornerback, DJ McKinney, is listed as questionable for this week. He has started all 22 games for the Buffs over the past two seasons. The Buffs are already without injured Makari Vickers, while RJ Johnson (questionable) and Teon Parks (probable) are also on the participation report.
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