The 2025 college football season is inching closer, beginning with Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday, July 8. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is set to attend, but it’s who he’s bringing with him that’s already raising eyebrows.
Sanders has made the surprising decision to bring both of his quarterbacks — Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and true freshman JuJu Lewis — to Dallas this week. With his son, Shedeur Sanders, now off to the NFL, either Salter or Lewis will take over as the Buffaloes' new starting quarterback this fall.
Also joining Sanders at media days are offensive lineman Jordan Seaton, defensive back D.J. McKinner, and kicker Alejandro Mata.
But Sanders' move to bring both quarterbacks speaks volumes about the uncertainty under center in Boulder, according to FanSided’s Cody Williams.
“While I'm not unanimously going to subscribe to the old football adage of, ‘if you have two quarterbacks, then you have none,’ every case is different. And in Colorado's case, it doesn't sit quite right that they seemingly haven't made a distinction yet,” Williams wrote.
Williams warned that lacking a firm decision at the most important position could prove costly in a competitive, chaotic Big 12.
“Admittedly, I have my doubts about Salter, who was inconsistent in his time with Liberty, despite flashes,” he continued. “His fit with veteran offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur feels messy at best, so it’s always made more sense to me to roll with Lewis and make the future start right now for the Buffaloes.
“But the more important thing for Colorado is to pick a lane and ride in it. Without that — especially when a similarly mixed message has been sent on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal from Sanders and the program — it feels like the Buffs are just a bit directionless. That’s the last thing you want to be, especially in a league like the Big 12 and with a coach who attracts the spotlight like Coach Prime.”
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah echoed those concerns, calling Sanders’ “rare decision” to bring both quarterbacks a sign of major uncertainty heading into the season.
“It’s a testament to the maturity of both players that Deion Sanders feels comfortable putting both in front of the media,” Jeyarajah wrote. “But things get tougher when the bullets start flying. It’s the first time Sanders has dealt with a real quarterback competition as an FBS football coach.”
Last year, Shedeur Sanders dominated headlines, in part because of his talent but also because of his high-profile relationship with his father. Now, with no clear-cut successor and a spotlight that won’t go away, Colorado is staring down the very real possibility of a season-long quarterback battle — and all the chaos that comes with it.