Two Intriguing Quarterback Match Ups on Colorado's Non-Conference Schedule
Two Intriguing Quarterback Match Ups on Colorado's Non-Conference Schedule
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian ‘JuJu’ Lewis will face stout quarterback competition early in the 2026 season.Liam Howard|
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Colorado BuffaloesGeorgia Tech Yellow JacketsNorthwestern WildcatsWhile the Big 12 schedule will be full of tough matchups for Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian ‘JuJu’ Lewis, he’ll be in two high-stakes quarterback matchups in CU’s non-conference schedule.
Those opponents have flown under the radar thus far but will be important for coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes to pay close attention to in the early season.
Alberto Mendoza, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
In Colorado’s 2025 matchup against the Yellow Jackets, poor quarterback play ultimately led to the Buffs defeat. The win would’ve been enormous, as Colorado could’ve gotten the season started the right way and had some momentum to build on moving forward. In addition, it would’ve been a win over a team that was ranked as high as No. 7 in the 2025 AP Poll.
With the Buffaloes not having the home-field advantage of Folsom Field in 2026, it will be immensely important that Lewis outdoes the performance Kaidon Salter gave CU a year prior.
However, Georgia Tech will once again be armed with a promising weapon of its own at the quarterback position in Week 1. During the offseason, Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key landed Indiana Hoosiers transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza in the transfer portal.
Mendoza is the younger brother of 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and won a National Championship alongside him last season. Although Mendoza only appeared sparingly, with his older brother taking the lion's share of the reps, he looked promising. He threw for 292 yards and five touchdowns to just one interception, while adding 187 yards and a touchdown on the ground in 10 appearances.
Given Mendoza’s youth, he won’t hold much of an experience advantage over Lewis the way many other quarterbacks will in 2026. However, his presence and potential are signs that Georgia Tech’s offense could get rolling early, so Lewis needs to at least match that production to keep his team in the game.
Aidan Chiles, Northwestern Wildcats
To conclude non-conference play, Colorado will travel to Chicago, Illinois, to face the Northwestern Wildcats at Martin Stadium. In that game, Lewis will participate in a quarterback matchup featuring a fellow former blue-chip high school recruit.
Chiles is at the third school of his college career, and hasn’t found the success that scouts expected him to in his high school days. He was listed as a four-star recruit by all the major recruiting sites at that time, committing to the Oregon State Beavers on June 9, 2022, per 247Sports.
However, he’s shown flashes of brilliance in his college career and shouldn’t be overlooked by Lewis or Colorado’s coaching staff. Standing 6-3, 225 pounds, while also being able to run the ball incredibly well, Chiles can catch fire on any given Saturday.
One such example is his game against the Boston College Eagles in 2025, when he was with the Michigan State Spartans. In that game, he threw for an impressive 231 yards and four touchdowns to no interceptions, while also rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown. His performance elevated the Spartans to a 42-40 overtime win.
Lewis will need to be precise in Colorado’s game against Northwestern. Chiles has often been held back by sloppy play, as he has been known to force throws that have resulted in turnovers over the years. If Lewis can play smart football by limiting turnovers and leading sustained drives to keep the ball out of Chiles’s hands, he’ll put the Buffaloes in a great position to emerge victorious in Week 3.
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Published Jun 19, 2026
LIAM HOWARDLiam Howard is a Colorado Buffaloes On SI beat reporter and a men’s basketball beat writer and sportscaster for Sko Buffs Sports. A Longmont, Colorado native, he has built a diverse portfolio across sports media, with experience in broadcast production, graphic design, and documentary storytelling. Known for his detailed coverage of college athletics, Howard is also the founder and host of SBS Football Live, where he provides thoughtful analysis and original reporting.
Home/Football
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
