Colorado Buffaloes kicker, Alejandro Mata, celebrating after converting a field goal in the game against the University of Arizona at Folsom Field on Saturday, Nov. 1st, 2025. (Aspen Doust/CU Independent)
The new era of football at the University of Colorado Boulder began with a loss on Saturday morning. After turning to 18-year-old true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis, following consecutive losses, the Buffs had a chance to get back on track against a beatable West Virginia University squad. However, a slow first half and a sloppy performance on defense led to a 29-22 defeat, eliminating Colorado from bowl game contention and confirming head coach Deion Sanders’ second losing season in three years.
The game got off to a disorganized start on both sides, with Colorado turning the ball over on an unsuccessful fourth-and-one and West Virginia fumbling it right back. Yet, the Mountaineers uniquely drew first blood off a blocked punt by sophomore Israel Boyce that rolled through the end zone for a safety.
The Buffs’ defense reminded everyone that they’ve allowed 105 points in the last two weeks, on the preceding drive, yielding a 75-yard touchdown drive in four minutes. The unit failed to show any much-needed adjustments, allowing multiple big plays and not completing tackles to fall down 9-0 in the first quarter.
Lewis had his first highlight shortly after, hitting junior receiver Omarion Miller for a deep pickup of 43. Miller and Lewis stayed in sync all game, something that sparked during the dark hours against the University of Arizona last week. The Buffs went backwards after the 43-yard gain, thanks to penalties and sacks, another recurring problem, to punt and give the ball back to West Virginia.
Colorado later drove down the field for an Alejandro Mata 23-yard chip-in field goal, but then immediately gave up a 70-yard fly route to WVU’s Diore Hubbard. While he was tripped up just three yards shy of the end zone, the Mountaineers punched it in three plays later to go up 16-3.
Both teams traded blows in the closing moments of the first half, with Lewis finding sophomore Joseph Williams to make it a 16-9 game with 45 seconds left. Last week, senior kicker Alejandro Mata set a Colorado record by making his 103rd and 104th consecutive extra point attempts, but that streak unfortunately snapped to hold the Buffs at nine. With just 45 seconds left, thanks to more poor tackling from the Buffs, West Virginia mustered up a field goal drive as time expired to extend the lead to 10.
Similar to the first quarter, the third began hastily with both teams not taking care of the ball. Miller fumbled, putting a stain on an otherwise tremendous stat line, and WVU’s freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. threw an interception across his body to senior Preston Hodge for his first pick of the year. Colorado couldn’t capitalize, yet Fox Jr. threw another interception a drive later to sophomore John Slaughter.
The Buffs leaned on the great field position off the second takeaway, swiftly executing a 20-yard fade to Miller for his seventh touchdown of 2025. Miller finished with six catches for 131 yards.
Both Colorado and West Virginia executed field goal drives to set up a 22-19 Mountaineer advantage late in the fourth quarter. After putting together a better half from the Buffs’ defense, they ultimately ran out of steam late for West Virginia to methodically move 60 yards while chewing nearly six minutes of clock. The Mountaineers scored their third touchdown of the game and never looked back, as the Buffs fell to 3-7.
Lewis was arguably the least of Colorado’s problems in their third straight loss, throwing for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was aggressive downfield and showed trust in his receivers while establishing a connection with Miller.
FILE PHOTO: Incoming quarterback Julian Lewis looks at the crowd during a celebration for the football team at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
“I think he played a good game,” Sanders said about the freshman. “He did some wonderful things that you could see that he’s going to be special. He did some things where you could see his youth, but overall, the kid played well.”
The offensive line allowed seven sacks on Lewis, granted missing star Jordan Seaton, it was another unacceptable week from a group that played well earlier in the year. Penalties also returned as a sore, tallying up 60 yards across six whistles.
“We’re not going to give up,” Lewis said despite the loss. “Getting some momentum back offensively, defensively, it felt good. Of course, the loss sucks, [we’ll] try to just flush it and get through the next weeks.”
Lewis and the Buffs will get an extra week to harmonize before hosting a talented Arizona State University team on Nov. 22. Kickoff time is yet to be announced.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu
