(Julian Lewis) , what is the story behind this trend in Social Media today?
04-09-2026
Julian Lewis (the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, nicknamed JuJu) is trending because of a rough start in Colorado’s 2026 season opener against Georgia Tech on September 3. coloradobuffaloeswire.usatoday.comLewis, a former five-star recruit from Carrollton, Georgia (about an hour from Atlanta), is the highly hyped successor to Shedeur Sanders. He flipped from USC to Deion Sanders’ program, has major NIL deals, and entered the year as the starter after limited but interception-free action as a true freshman in 2025. The game carried extra narrative weight: he grew up nearby, and reports circulated that people around him had quietly inquired about a possible move to Georgia Tech in the portal window earlier in 2026. si.comOn the field he looked overmatched. Through the first half (and into the third quarter while the game was still live), he was 6-of-14 for 41 yards with no touchdowns, a fumble he recovered himself for a big loss, missed connections on open receivers, and an overall uncomfortable presence in humid conditions. Colorado trailed 10-7 at halftime in a sloppy, turnover-prone game. Fans and analysts immediately piled on, calling the moment too big for him, questioning whether he’s “it,” and debating if he should be benched. on3.comThis fits a pattern. At Big 12 Media Days in July he made comments about last year’s offense “freeballing” like high school, which went viral and drew pushback from Deion Sanders Jr. and the new offensive coordinator. Combined with Colorado’s post-Shedeur struggles, the opener amplified existing skepticism about the program and the young QB. Social media reactions right now are mostly critical clips, memes, and “he’s not ready” takes during/after the game.