Sanders names Corner Canyon's Wilson to start for Colorado against Utah

DRAPER — Isaac Wilson, who played at Corner Canyon High School and spent two seasons at Utah, will start at quarterback for Colorado when the No. 11 Utes visit Boulder on Saturday, Coach Deion Sanders said at his weekly press conference Tuesday 123.

The game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MDT on ESPN 2. Wilson, a Draper native, played for coach Eric Kjar at Corner Canyon and chose Utah over BYU as a four-star recruit in May 2023, the Draper Herald reported 1. He appeared in 10 games for the Utes and made seven starts as a true freshman in 2024, leading the team in passing with 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns 14.

He entered the transfer portal in December 2025 and signed with Colorado in January 2026 1. He took over after five-star quarterback Julian Lewis was benched during Colorado's Sept. 26 loss to Baylor, and made his first start in a 29-7 loss to Texas Tech on Oct. 3, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 42 yards, with three interceptions including a pick-six 12. In three games for the Buffaloes he has completed 40 of 71 passes for 443 yards, the Denver Post reported 4.

Sanders called Utah "probably the toughest team we're going to face this season," and said of Wilson: "Isaac is just tough. His demeanor is ... Isaac throw a few picks, he's still going. He's not getting down on himself. He's a fighter" 1. The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sanders confirmed the start with "You knew darn well Isaac was starting" 3.

Utah is 5-0 and is the only FBS team to have won every game this season by at least 14 points, the Herald reported, citing ABC4. The Utes average 42.8 points a game and allow 13.0, and rank No. 9 nationally in rushing defense 1. The Deseret News reported Utah's offense is ranked No. 9 nationally and its defense No. 18, while Colorado's offense is No. 71 and its defense No. 61 2. Colorado is 2-3 after three straight losses 12. Sanders said he wants the Buffaloes to attempt between 17 and 24 passes a game, the Denver Post reported 4.

Utah coach Morgan Scalley, in his first season after replacing Kyle Whittingham, said the former Ute "has arm talent" on outside throws but added, "at the end of the day I still think it's a team game," the Herald reported 1. Scalley called Sanders' program well prepared and said two former Utes, Wilson and cornerback Jason Stokes Jr., know the team, the Tribune reported 3.

Sources: 1 Draper Herald, "Sanders calls Utah 'toughest' foe, praises Corner Canyon's Wilson," Oct. 14, 2026 https://draperherald.com/articles/sanders-calls-utah-toughest-foe-praises-corner-canyon-s-wilson-mv85j629 2 Deseret News, "'Probably the toughest team we're going to face this season': Deion Sanders talks Utes and Isaac Wilson," Oct. 13, 2026 https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/10/13/what-deion-sanders-coach-prime-colorado-said-about-utah-utes/ 3 The Salt Lake Tribune, "Deion Sanders confirms Isaac Wilson will start against Utah," Oct. 13, 2026 https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2026/10/13/ex-utah-qb-isaac-wilson-could/ 4 The Denver Post, "Isaac Wilson gets the start for CU Buffs against his former team," Oct. 13, 2026 https://www.denverpost.com/2026/10/13/isaac-wilson-cu-buffs-utah-quarterback-deion-sanders/