Another year means another change for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sam Noyer, CU’s starting quarterback in all 6 games of the 2020 season, will part ways with the Buffs to pursue his football future elsewhere. Noyer announced Monday he will enter the NCAA transfer portal. In 2020, he led Colorado to a 4-2 record and their second bowl appearance in the last 13 seasons.

Colorado made the most of a shortened 2020 schedule, securing victories in their first four games. Noyer shouldered the burden under center, orchestrating the offense for first year head coach Karl Dorrell to the tune of 1,101 yards passing on 88-160 passing, 6 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Following in the footsteps of Colorado Buffaloes Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez, Noyer kept teams honest with his legs and rushed for 208 yards and 5 TDs.

Now, Dorrell will look to the talents of freshman Brendon Lewis and sophomore J.T. Shrout at signal caller as he prepares for the 2021 season.

Brendon Lewis experienced his first live college football snaps during the Buffs’ tough 55-23 loss to Texas in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

In that late December drubbing, however, Lewis was the quarterback for each drive in which Colorado found the end zone. Jarek Broussard did most of the scoring, with 2 TDs on 27 carries for 82 yards. The freshman, Lewis, showed that the Alamodome lights weren’t too bright for him, completing 6/10 passes for 95 yards and adding to the ground attack with 9 rushes for 73 yards and a touchdown of his own. And while Noyer threw 2 interceptions in the contest, Brendon Lewis did not turn the ball over.

If Lewis alone was the “experienced” returning quarterback for Colorado, there would be no need to panic.

However, the Colorado Buffaloes also added J.T. Shrout by way of trasfer from Tennessee.

The sophomore Shrout didn’t present the same dual-threat last season that many recent Colorado QBs have demonstrated. He did rack up 315 yards and 4 TDs on 24/42 attempts with 3 INTs. His best showing came against the #6 Florida Gators, when he completed all but 2 of his 14 pass attempts. Shrout threw for 121 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Having a former SEC competitor in the quarterback room will help the rest of the young CU Buffs QBs develop.

The Colorado Buffaloes will start their season against the UNC Bears on Friday September 3rd. Their next two contests are with two Power 5 programs in Texas A&M and Minnesota. Those three games will be a great barometer for the kind of quarterback play the Buffs will be working with this season. They commence their Pac-12 schedule at Arizona State on September 25.