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College athletes poised to receive pay

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As soon as later this month, a landmark settlement in an NCAA antitrust case could be finalized, and schools, including Pitt, would dole out more than $20 million annually to players over the next decade. The change would go into effect on July 1.

Key elements of the pending settlement

  • $2.8 billion in backpay to college athletes who played for Division I schools between 2016 to 2024
  • $20.5 million paid to athletes by Power 5 conference schools in the first year, with yearly increases
  • Scholarship limits replaced by roster caps 

But, with an athletics department in the red and uncertain federal funding for research — a mainstay in Pitt’s budget — the source of that money is murky.

Some schools around the country have already instituted higher ticket and concession prices for games, while others are adding onto student fees to help foot the bill. Preparation for the payments has also led to already-enrolled athletes being cut from teams, and recruits committing to schools without clarity on next steps come the fall.

Pitt declined to answer specific questions about a funding and distribution plan for the multimillion-dollar payments, where the money would stem from and how recruiting may have been altered for the upcoming school year.

Why are colleges going to pay athletes?

Historically, colleges have avoided having to pay student athletes, characterizing them as amateurs rather than professionals. Karen Weaver, the author of a forthcoming book on university leadership and athletics, said this was feasible for years until college sports began to rake in big bucks.

“The amount of money pouring in at every level … just became intolerable, so athletes and their attorneys started pushing back,” said Weaver, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Enter a slate of lawsuits against the NCAA, which oversees athletics for more than a thousand colleges and universities. The $2.8 billion settlement could end the case of House v. NCAA, which was initially brought by a former college swimmer and evolved to include two other suits. 

Experts told PublicSource that the settlement, which will allow colleges to pay athletes, was a less financially damaging choice for the organization than letting the cases play out in court. 

However, colleges and universities in the Power Five conferences aren’t exactly in a prime position to help the NCAA cover the settlement cost, especially as they each prepare to find $20.5 million for their athletes.

Can Pitt afford this?

Revenue for most schools’ athletics departments doesn’t outpace expenses, including at Pitt.

According to financial disclosures submitted to the state, Pitt’s athletics department ended the 2023-24 school year with a $45 million deficit.

“The issue with college sports, as is true for most of our education, is we spend what we get and sometimes in college athletics, they spend more,” Weaver said. “So, more often than not, they’re running deficits.”

PublicSource reached out to Pitt with questions about the deficit and did not receive a response by publication time. 

The settlement’s potential finalization would also arrive at a time when Pitt is battling critical financial concerns. Federal research funding cuts prompted Pitt in March to institute a hiring freeze that will last until the end of June, at a minimum. Research grants and contracts accounted for 39% of the university’s revenue in 2024. 

“This is a real concern. The timing could not be worse,” Weaver said about the current higher education climate.

Solutions for finding the money range from cutting sports that aren’t generating enough revenue to acquiring loans through private equity, Weaver said. Despite the silence from administrators, she said with the settlement being potentially close to finalization, it’s likely that Pitt would have a plan or be close to one by now.

Would tuition increase?

One alum has been trying for months to figure that out. In February, Byron Fleck contacted university administrators requesting that the Board of Trustees add an agenda item to their next meeting. The San Jose-based lawyer attached a statement of support for a resolution that, if approved by the trustees, would promise that tuition, student fees and taxpayer money wouldn’t be used to pay Pitt’s athletes.

State law permits state-related universities, including Pitt, to use taxpayer money only to offset tuition costs for state residents. There have been no indications that the university plans to increase tuition or add student fees to pay athletes. Pitt did not answer a question about whether it intends to do so. 

Since 2021, tuition at Pitt’s main campus in Oakland has increased every year. Last year’s increase was 2% for in-state students and 4% for out-of-state students. The university’s budget for the next school year, when athlete payments would begin if the settlement is approved, won’t be finalized until July.

Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel and Board Secretary Philip Bakken both confirmed that Fleck’s request and statement were relayed to the trustees, according to emails shared with PublicSource. After this, Fleck said he was told there would be no further communication regarding the request. The board met on May 8 and the resolution wasn’t mentioned.

When asked why the board didn’t acknowledge the request for a resolution vote, a Pitt spokesperson said, “The Board of Trustees, through the Office of the Secretary, did acknowledge Mr. Fleck’s feedback and request. We thanked him for his feedback and repeatedly indicated that his communication had been shared with the board.”

In the absence of a vote, Fleck took to contacting Gov. Josh Shapiro, State Education Secretary Carrie Rowe and state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Minority Leader Jay Costa.

Costa, whose district includes Pitt’s Oakland campus and who serves on the Board of Trustees, reached out to the board to ask them to consider the resolution, according to an email from his district office director earlier this month.

Would players be paid equally?

The settlement will not detail which athletes are paid or how much, leaving the choice up to the individual schools. Most are expected to follow a plan that would see football and men’s basketball players receiving the bulk of the money since those sports tend to generate the most revenue.

Under that blueprint, football would get 75% of the funds, 15-20% would go to men’s basketball, 5-10% would go to women’s basketball and leftover money would be given to other sports. At Pitt, there is a slightly larger number of male athletes at 292 than female athletes at 235, according to the most recent federal data.   

Experts told PublicSource they are expecting legal challenges related to Title IX, particularly if schools follow the football-heavy formula.

Title IX requires schools to provide equal financial assistance opportunities to men and women athletes. Before former President Joe Biden left office in January, he issued guidance spelling this out for the distribution of name, image and likeness [NIL] payments. The Trump administration rescinded this on Feb. 12.

Pitt did not answer a question about whether parity between men’s and women’s sports would be a factor in how athletes get paid.

How does NIL factor into this?

Student athletes are currently able to profit from outside NIL deals, a change that the NCAA allowed in June 2021. The settlement will not limit their ability to earn extra money on top of payments from schools, but there will be more regulation around deals. Those worth $600 or more will have to be made public. 

Many players sign onto and are paid through school-specific NIL collectives, which are often organizations that accept donations to pay athletes for the likes of endorsements, social media posts, appearances and more.

Weaver called these collectives “loosely structured.” Pitt’s collective is Alliance 412 and was founded by alum Chris Bickell in 2022. Bickell, CEO of the Florida health tech company WellHive, donated $20 million to Pitt’s athletics department the previous year.

These collectives operate independently from the universities, but experts predict that many will be absorbed into athletics departments after the settlement is finalized.

Alliance 412 and the university’s department, though separate entities, already work in close collaboration. Last fall, Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi and Bickell decided to stop paying all players, instead compensating select ones.

“If you want sponsorships and want to be paid like a professional, you have to earn it,” Bickell said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports.

Could athletes unionize?

To Ohio University professor B. David Ridpath, there is only one clear path forward for Pitt once the settlement is finalized.

“It’s going to be difficult for them to be able to exist in any competitive balance with a Penn State, with a Notre Dame, with an Ohio State, unless there is some type of collective bargaining and unionization with the athletes, because then … you could level out the playing field a little bit more,” he said.

Ridpath, whose research focuses on sports governance in intercollegiate athletics, said unionizing would allow for salary caps and even spending, in part by eliminating recruiting costs. It would also ensure Title IX requirements are met, he said.  

Student athletes have never been considered employees of the universities they play for, but receiving payment as part of the settlement’s conditions would call their status into question. Ridpath expects the settlement will open the door for lawsuits addressing this.

Details in the settlement are still being hammered out between the NCAA and athletes represented in the case, despite it having preliminary approval. If an agreement isn’t reached, the case goes to trial, and the financial blowback for the NCAA and its member schools could skyrocket.

Weaver isn’t sure what will happen, while Ridpath is more certain.

“I tend to think the settlement is going to get approved, but also I think, predict and rightly predict, that’s just the beginning,” he said.

Maddy Franklin reports on higher ed for PublicSource, in partnership with Open Campus, and can be reached at madison@publicsource.org.

This story was fact-checked by Ayla Saeed.

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Notre Dame’s 2025 Christmas Wish List

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At this point, Notre Dame isn’t wishing for progress. The Irish are wishing for the final pieces.

Notre Dame’s program is close enough to a national title that every missing detail matters, from NIL support to depth at quarterback and the trenches.

If Christmas wishes came true in college football, here’s what each Notre Dame assistant and Marcus Freeman would be hoping to unwrap.

Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame’s head man might be the most coveted coach in college football, so what does he want for Christmas? One obvious answer: support. Specifically, donations to Rally over the Rockne Fund so Notre Dame football can fully flex its NIL muscle.

Is that a little selfish? Probably. But that’s the price of chasing national championships, and every great Notre Dame head coach is ultimately judged by titles. Freeman is no different.

Gino Guidugli
What more could Guidugli want as he has CJ Carr returning and two incoming freshman quarterbacks? Well, how about a backup quarterback with experience? It’s not easy to find a quarterback with experience who wants to play behind Carr, but programs do it every year. It’s vital for Notre Dame’s success as Carr didn’t miss a game in 2024 and that’s a rarity in college football. 

Ja’Juan Seider
Seider’s gift may have come last winter when he decided to take the Notre Dame job. He missed the wild ending of the James Franklin era at Penn State and a disaster of a season in Happy Valley. Seider would love to make another splash on the recruiting trail, and that would be 2027 McKeesport (Pa.) five-star running back Kemon Spell‍. 

Mike Brown 
Notre Dame is close to having a championship-level receiver room. Several key pieces return, but Brown could still use an experienced boundary receiver. Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh is one intriguing option. Marsh shares an agent with CJ Carr, but the real Christmas miracle would be getting him into Notre Dame as a true sophomore.

If it’s not Marsh, the conversation starts with freshman Kaydon Finley showing he’s ready after spring ball. The Texas native will battle Micah Gilbert and Cam Williams, but Brown would feel far more comfortable if two proven options emerge at that spot.

Mike Denbrock
There are a few gifts Denbrock could desire, but the most important is a short-yardage fix. Notre Dame struggled at times in goal-to-go situations and in 2026, Denbrock won’t have Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price. Now, Denbrock should have plenty of talent at the running back position, but he’ll need to find a way for Notre Dame to be a little more successful in those situations in 2026 if the Irish want to achieve the big goal. 

Joe Rudolph
This one is easy, especially with Aamil Wagner’s departure to the NFL. The ultimate gift for Rudolph is health and specifically for Charles Jagusah to remain healthy. A freak ATV accident cost Jagusah his season and the Irish need him more than ever with Rudolph looking to fill out his offensive line. 

Chris Ash
The secondary has a chance to be the best in the country. If Notre Dame can generate more edge pressure in 2026, this defense could be overwhelming.

Boubacar Traore is one answer, but Ash needs a couple more players to step up over the next eight months to unlock this Ash defense. 

Al Washington 
Along the same lines, Washington would love to see a few defensive tackles under the tree. The interior line is losing key contributors, and Jason Onye’s petition for another year remains uncertain.

Defensive tackle recruiting is never easy, but a couple of big bodies who can eat space would make life much easier for Washington.

Mike Mickens
The man has everything. Mickens will have the nation’s top cornerback returning in Leonard Moore and one of the most experienced corners in the country on the opposite side in Christian Gray. Mickens also has young depth behind them. At safety, Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler make up one of the best safety groups in the country. Luke Talich is a jack of all trades and then there is incoming freshman Joey O’Brien. 

Mickens needs the gift of a raise. He’s proven he can coach, develop and recruit at a high level. Notre Dame needs to make sure he knows he’s the defensive back coach in the country and that’s filling his pockets with love. 

Marty Biagi
There are two gifts Biagi has asked for this Christmas. One would be a graduate transfer kicker with no injury history. The other would be another Aussie punter, as James Rendell worked out to perfection. Erik Schmidt’s development would be icing on the cake as he can kick and punt. 

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NIL Funds Are at Top of Arizona State’s Christmas Wishlist

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TEMPE — Fan support. Improving facilities. Competent head coaches. Nearly all of the factors that the Arizona State Sun Devils need to maintain quality athletic programs are in place.

Kenny Dillingham, Bobby Hurley, Molly Miller, volleyball coach JJ Van Niel, and many others have displayed marked moments of success during their respective tenures. Baseball, swim and dive, and volleyball have broken attendance records in the last year. The indoor practice facility for the football program appears to be well on the way to being constructed.

One thing that is missing is consistent support from within the sphere of NIL.

Arizona State was late in entering the “arms race” that name image and likeness has created – it has shown in recent years as well.

While the Sun Devils were able to accomplish things such as winning Big 12 titles in football (2024) and volleyball (2025), there are still limitations at the moment – this season of giving opens the door for individuals to make a difference that can shape the future of Arizona State athletics.

Dillingham Gets Honest About NIL Efforts

Dillingham was candid when speaking about the program’s NIL efforts last Saturday when interacting with media following reports that he had agreed to an amended contract with the university.

“Can we get people who aren’t involved, who maybe didn’t go to Arizona State who did go to Arizona State and are far away? Can we get the Phil (Mickelson) involved, like, get these guys involved in our program, the Jon (Rahm), can we get people back involved in this program, that and get them involved in a level that everybody knows, man, these guys love Arizona state.”

While the efforts the program has made since Graham Rossini took over as AD in May of 2024, they are still behind in many ways and surely could use a donor in a similar vein of Mickelson or Rahm.

This is a plan of attack that has proved to work in the past – as a high six-figure donation by program alum James Harden in 2024 likely funded the basketball program handsomely and was a big part in being able to keep stars such as Jayden Quaintance happy.

The effort didn’t work out long-term, but it shows that when the infrastructure is supported by passionate and influential fans – there are avenues any given program can take to reach the state of consistent contention

Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.

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Kirby Smart gives fiery response to question about conversations with players on future

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Throughout the month of December, college football players everywhere are making life-altering decisions about their future. Many are even releasing well-crafted announcements over social media regarding whether they intend to remain with their current program to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

Some upper classmen are even declaring their intention to enter next April’s NFL Draft or announcing postseason all-star game invites. And let’s not forget about National Signing Day on the first Wednesday of the month.

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At the same time, college football coaches are having often difficult and frank conversations with their current roster, while at the same time formulating a plan of attack ahead of Jan. 2nd, when the NCAA Transfer Portal opens for two full weeks.

It’s happening all over, … well, except in Athens apparently, where No. 3 Georgia (12-1) is busy preparing for a return to New Orleans for the College Football Playoff‘s Sugar Bowl national quarterfinal against No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1). Kickoff is set for 8 pm ET, New Year’s Day inside the Caesars Superdome. When asked about how he’s splitting his time between bowl prep and roster management at a recent press conference, UGA head coach Kirby Smart flipped the script regarding what he’s telling Bulldogs players that might approach him with concerns about their future.

“We’re focused on this team. I think it’d be remiss to say we’re focused on roster management. We’re not focused on it. We’re focused on prep and getting better,” Smart said Monday. “And for a while it’s been intrinsically looking at ourselves and asking each player: ‘Did you come here to develop? Did you truly come here to develop?’ Because if you did, all your buddies are out there right now, everybody’s announcing what they’re doing, announcing that I’m going into the portal, announcing that I’m re-signing. How about you announce that you’re getting better and you’re going to practice and actually do what (for the prior) 20 and 30 years college football players did before you, which was practice in December – when they’re on good teams – and get better.

“Because if you’re going to play somewhere else, you know what you need to do? You need to get better. If you’re going to play here, you know what you need to do? You need to get better,” Smart continued. “If you want to go to the National Football League and play, this is your last chance to get better. Because they’re not going to give you much opportunity, they’re going to cut you or keep you based on how you do, and they don’t get to practice in pads so many days. So development occurs in December for us, and that’s what we’ve been focused on.”



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Shane Beamer blasts report surrounding cost of deals signed by LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart

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South Carolina fans received an early Christmas present this week when superstar quarterback LaNorris Sellers and star pass rusher Dylan Stewart both inked new rev-share/NIL deals with the Gamecocks to return for the 2026 season. Sellers announced his plan to return on Monday on X/Twitter, while Stewart confirmed his return Tuesday on Instagram.

And while South Carolina’s Shane Beamer undoubtedly welcomed both back with open arms, the fifth-year Gamecocks head football coach shot down a Tuesday night report from Columbia’s SportsTalk Media Network suggesting the price tag for the two Gamecocks stars was “in the neighborhood of $5 million from the school’s rev share total.”

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“Sounds to me like you need some much better sources,” Beamer reponded on X/Twitter on Christmas Eve. “This isn’t even remotely close to being true. #AnythingForClicks #Merry Christmas”

Sellers has been one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in college football the past two seasons, combining on 5,915 total yards and 43 touchdowns as South Carolina’s starter in 2024-25. That included more than 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in a difficult 2025 season that saw Beamer part ways with offensive coordinator Mike Shula in early November. Beamer has since hired former Arkansas, FSU and TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles as the Gamecocks’ new OC ahead of Sellers’ third season as QB1.

“He’ll be the first to tell you he needs to play better, and we’ve got to coach him better,” Beamer said earlier this month, according to On3’s Gamecock Central. “We’ve got to be better around him, and we all have to be accountable. He understands that. … (And) all indications I’ve had from LaNorris are that he wants to be here. … He knows that the job is not finished, and there’s a lot of excitement about ’26, and he and a lot of our other players that are returning feel that same way.”

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5 and 250-pound Stewart has totaled six forced fumbles, 11 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss and 56 total tackles in 24 career games across his first two seasons in Columbia. Stewart is a former Five-Star Plus+ signee in the 2024 recruiting class as the nation’s No. 3 EDGE rusher and No. 17 overall player, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

“They’re extremely excited about what this team could be in 2026, and they’re a big part of that. There’s no question,” Beamer said on National Signing Day earlier this month. “I know there’s no sense of, ‘I’m not really sure South Carolina’s where I want to be.’ It’s them making the best decisions for them and their families and their futures.”





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Alabama football: Parker Brailsford spreads cheer, DeBoer talks Indiana

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DeBoer spent one year as Tom Allen’s offensive coordinator, helping Indiana reach its first Florida-based January bowl game (at a time when that still carried greater meaning) in 2019.

And Cignetti spent four years as part of Nick Saban’s first Alabama staff, coaching wide receivers and coordinating recruiting for the program Cignetti eventually helped win a national championship.

But they’ve both distinguished themselves in their profession through their willingness to climb the coaching pyramid: From outside Division I, through lower levels as either a head coach or coordinator, all the way up to the sport’s biggest stage.

“Knowing coach Cignetti and — you referred to it — his path, nothing but respect for how he’s done it, how he’s gotten to this spot,” DeBoer said.



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Surprising List Of Colorado Buffaloes’ Biggest NIL Valuations

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The Colorado Buffaloes are facing a mass exodus through the NCAA Transfer Portal. One reason that players enter the portal in the current college football landscape is due to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.

The current Colorado Buffaloes players with the highest NIL Valuation according to On3 are notable when evaluating who will be on the team next season.

Colorado Buffaloes NIL Julian Lewis Jordan Seaton Tawfiq Byard Deion Sanders Coach Prime Transfer Portal College Football

Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks the sidelines as his team takes on the ASU Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Colorado Players With Highest NIL Valuation

  1. Jordan Seaton: $1.7M
  2. Julian Lewis: $1.1M
  3. Omarion Miller: $570K
  4. Jehiem Oatis: $390K
  5. Tawfiq Byard: $358K
  6. Dre’lon Miller: $321K
  7. Noah King: $315K
  8. Christian Hudson: $312K
  9. Carde Smith: $311K
  10. Zarian McGill: $119K

NIL valuations are not how much players are earning, but On3’s way of measuring a player’s projected annual value. It combines roster value and NIL value.

Colorado Buffaloes NIL Julian Lewis Jordan Seaton Tawfiq Byard Deion Sanders Coach Prime Transfer Portal College Football

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during the second quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images | Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

One of the most significant aspects of the top 10 Colorado players is that only two are set to return to the team in 2026: offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and quarterback Julian Lewis. Offensive lineman Zarian McGill is also in the top 10, but is headed to the NFL in 2026.

The remainder of the top 10 in NIL valuation have announced their intention to enter the portal. With the number of players set to leave the team, the Buffaloes will lose several highly valued players.

MORE: Deion Sanders Reportedly Hires Familiar Name As Colorado Running Backs Coach

MORE: Why Shedeur Sanders Will Bounce Back From Late-Season Struggles

MORE: Insider Reveals Biggest Reason Behind Colorado’s Transfer Portal Mass Exodus 

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Jordan Seaton Highest NIL Valuation On Colorado

Seaton has the highest NIL valuation and is one of the most critical players on the Buffaloes. Seaton has been with the program for two years, both of which have been dominant. He missed three games due to a foot injury, but allowed just two sacks and five quarterback hurries over 328 pass protection snaps.

Seaton will be entering his third year with the program, which will likely be his last, as he could declare for the NFL draft after the 2026 season.

Colorado Buffaloes NIL Julian Lewis Jordan Seaton Tawfiq Byard Deion Sanders Coach Prime Transfer Portal College Football

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (77) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

After a 3-9 season, it was possible Seaton would enter the portal, but he is expected to return to the Buffaloes in 2026. Seaton will play a prominent role in Colorado’s offense next season, with Lewis set to be the team’s week 1 starter. As Colorado looks to take a step forward, having an elite player on the offensive line who is also a veteran on the team will be crucial.

Julian Lewis Ready To Lead The Buffaloes

Lewis is preparing for a big year with the Buffaloes after developing throughout the 2025 season. He was a big pickup in the 2025 recruiting class, initially committed to the USC Trojans before flipping to Colorado.

Lewis started in three games this season, his first being against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Nov. 8. Colorado coach Deion Sanders decided to redshirt Lewis, which meant the quarterback did not play in the final game of the season.

Colorado Buffaloes NIL Julian Lewis Jordan Seaton Tawfiq Byard Deion Sanders Coach Prime Transfer Portal College Football

Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

“I’ve made a decision that JuJu is going to redshirt,” Sanders told the media when announcing the decision. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, what’s best for this wonderful university that has given me the tremendous opportunity and given him the opportunity. I think for the program, it’s best for everyone, but mainly it’s great for him.”

Lewis passed for 589 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Buffaloes hired offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who helped turn programs around by fixing the offense. With Marion and Seaton’s return, Lewis is set up for success in 2026 and beyond.

Though four games are a small sample size, the young quarterback has a high ceiling. He made some big throws, and with Marion, Lewis has the chance to take off in 2026.

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