University of Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Derek Marckel
Lewis Named To Maxwell Award Watch List
August 03, 2026 | Football
Second-Year Quarterback is Colorado's 10th Player to Earn Maxwell Consideration
BOULDER—Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis was named to the watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday, placing the second-year Buffalo among 81 candidates for the honor presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
Lewis is one of 15 players from the Big 12 on the list.
A five-star prospect from Carrollton, Ga., Lewis played in four games in 2025 and started two, completing 52-of-94 passes for 589 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He was the ninth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Buffaloes, a list dating back to 1959.
His first career start came at West Virginia, where he was 22-of-35 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, a performance that earned him PFF Big 12 Quarterback of the Week honors. That total is the second-most passing yards by a CU true freshman in a first start, behind only Koy Detmer, who threw for 418 yards in a 24-24 tie with Oklahoma in 1992. Lewis and Detmer are the only two of the nine to throw a pair of touchdown passes in a debut start.
Lewis is the 10th Buffalo to earn Maxwell Award consideration. Three have reached the final three: Rashaan Salaam was the runner-up in 1994, Eric Bieniemy finished third in 1990 and Travis Hunter was a finalist in 2024. Laviska Shenault (2018) and Shedeur Sanders (2024) both advanced to the semifinal round.
Semifinalists for the 2026 Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 10, with three finalists named Nov. 24. The winner will be revealed Dec. 10 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, with the formal presentation March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Award has been presented since 1937 and is named for Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former Swarthmore College standout who went on to work as a sportswriter and football official.
Colorado opened 2026 Fall Camp Monday in Colorado Springs exactly one month ahead of the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Lewis is one of 15 players from the Big 12 on the list.
A five-star prospect from Carrollton, Ga., Lewis played in four games in 2025 and started two, completing 52-of-94 passes for 589 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He was the ninth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Buffaloes, a list dating back to 1959.
His first career start came at West Virginia, where he was 22-of-35 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, a performance that earned him PFF Big 12 Quarterback of the Week honors. That total is the second-most passing yards by a CU true freshman in a first start, behind only Koy Detmer, who threw for 418 yards in a 24-24 tie with Oklahoma in 1992. Lewis and Detmer are the only two of the nine to throw a pair of touchdown passes in a debut start.
Lewis is the 10th Buffalo to earn Maxwell Award consideration. Three have reached the final three: Rashaan Salaam was the runner-up in 1994, Eric Bieniemy finished third in 1990 and Travis Hunter was a finalist in 2024. Laviska Shenault (2018) and Shedeur Sanders (2024) both advanced to the semifinal round.
Semifinalists for the 2026 Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 10, with three finalists named Nov. 24. The winner will be revealed Dec. 10 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, with the formal presentation March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Award has been presented since 1937 and is named for Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former Swarthmore College standout who went on to work as a sportswriter and football official.
Colorado opened 2026 Fall Camp Monday in Colorado Springs exactly one month ahead of the season opener on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.
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