There was never a question about who would start at quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes the past two years.

Shedeur Sanders not only started 24 of the Buffs’ 25 games in those two seasons (missing the 2023 finale with an injury), but he shattered school records along the way. Later this week he’ll hear his name called at the NFL Draft.

For now, there is no clear answer for the Buffs as they look to replace him.

A little more than four months away from the 2025 season opener, slated for Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field, the Buffs aren’t sure who will start at quarterback. And, head coach Deion Sanders isn’t in a rush to name a starter.

“What benefits us to name a dang starter (soon)? What does that do for us as a team? Nothing,” Sanders said after CU’s annual spring game on Saturday. “That may do something for you guys; you guys have something to talk about. But that don’t do nothing for us. I’m not doing that. Matter of fact, I don’t even know who’s going to be that guy right now anyways, so I don’t have the propensity to do it, because I don’t know. They gotta perform with consistency.”

During his first two seasons as CU’s head coach, Sanders had arguably the best quarterback in the country who also happened to be his son, so he had supreme confidence and trust in his signal-caller.

This year, the Buffs have plenty of talent at quarterback, but Sanders stated the obvious after the spring game when he said, “They’ve got a ways to go.”

True freshman JuJu Lewis, a five-star recruit in the 2025 class, took the first snaps with the first-team offense on Saturday. Asked what went into that decision, Sanders said, “That decision is kind of disciplinary. Things happen.”

Lewis, who graduated high school a year and a half early, won’t turn 18 until Sept. 21 — the day after the Buffs’ fourth game of the 2025 season. He showed his age a bit during the scrimmage, going 4-for-8 for 22 yards, unofficially.

“It was my first college scrimmage live with people around, so definitely a big, big milestone for me today,” Lewis said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff to grow on, but I mean, in due time.”

A fifth-year senior who transferred to CU from Liberty in January, Salter has plenty of college experience, going 21-4 as a starter in the past two years. He completed his first seven passes of Saturday’s scrimmage but finished 10-of-16 for 67 yards and an interception. He also ran four times for 15 yards.

“I did what I had to do and control what I could control,” he said.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub is also competing, but he didn’t get any reps during the 11-on-11 scrimmage portion of the spring game, so he appears to be No. 3 coming out of spring.

Not counting snaps with penalties, Lewis ran 18 plays in three possessions, while Salter was on the field for 31 plays in four possessions (including a 15-play drive that stalled at the 12-yard line).

With neither quarterback standing above the rest this spring, the competition will carry over to summer and fall, but the Buffs feel they’re in good hands.

“They both complement each other,” left tackle Jordan Seaton said. “The QB battle is gonna be really good this year. We’re still trying to figure out that, but those two quarterbacks, they’re both competing right now; that’s really all it is.”

Sanders had the luxury of coaching his son for years and knew exactly what he brought to the table. The process of learning that about Lewis and Salter is ongoing.

“JuJu and Salter, they’re different, man,” Sanders said. “We know what they’re good at, and we gotta implement that in the offense so we can move the ball consistent.”