Julian Lewis lands on the Maxwell Award watch list as Colorado eyes a major QB season

Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis has been named to the watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The Maxwell Award is one of college football’s most recognizable individual honors, and a spot on the preseason list indicates that voters and evaluators are already tracking a player for top-level impact on both weeks-by-week performance and end-of-season awards conversations.

Lewis, listed as the Buffaloes’ projected starting quarterback for the 2026 season in the announcement coverage, becomes the focus of Colorado’s early-season expectations at the most visible position on the field. The watch list approach is designed to cast a wide net before the season begins, then narrow attention as teams play their schedules and quarterbacks separate themselves statistically and in meaningful moments.

The fact that Lewis is on the Maxwell radar adds a specific layer to Colorado’s storyline as the Buffaloes enter 2026. Quarterback play is a frequent separator in the Maxwell conversation because the award ultimately reflects the broader measure of excellence on Saturdays. When a school’s offense runs through one leader, preseason recognition tends to follow the player who is most likely to drive efficiency, protect the football, and sustain production across the season.

For the Buffaloes, the timing of the announcement matters as the sport moves deeper into preseason evaluation and practice preparation. Watch-list inclusion can shape how national media and opposing defensive coordinators frame their game planning. It does not guarantee a finalist spot, but it raises the baseline for what will be treated as a successful progression through the season, especially early when teams are establishing their identities.

Still, being on the list is only the first step. The Maxwell Award typically rewards complete impact over the full course of the season, and the watch list is intentionally large enough to reflect uncertainty before games begin. Lewis will have to translate preseason expectations into consistent production, efficient decision-making, and consistent leadership as the schedule grows heavier and opponents adjust.

What to watch next is how Colorado’s offensive rhythm develops around Lewis and whether his performances carry into the games that tend to influence awards voting. As the season approaches its most meaningful stretch, the Maxwell watch list becomes less about reputation and more about results, and the quarterbacks attached to that conversation often separate themselves with durability, playmaking, and command.