Colorado Players Featured in Taco Bell's $7 Buffs Box Promotion
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis, running back DeKalon Taylor, wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr., and linebacker Liona Lefau have partnered with Taco Bell for the $7 Buffs Box. The meal deal includes commemorative cups and will be available at participating Colorado locations starting Aug. 20. The players appear in a new commercial promoting the partnership.
This marks the second straight year Taco Bell has partnered with Colorado football, though the featured players are entirely new. The commercial was filmed in the team's locker room and showcases commemorative cups included with the meal. The promotion launches just two weeks before the Buffs open their season Sept. 3 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, giving fans a tangible way to engage with the program during the final stretch of the offseason.
The deal highlights how Coach Deion Sanders has leveraged his national profile to secure brand partnerships for his roster. For Lewis, Taylor, Moore, and Lefau—all relatively new faces to the program—the campaign offers early exposure and professional experience that could benefit them both on and off the field as they build their personal brands ahead of the season.
This partnership could signal a growing trend where college athletes secure regional brand deals tied to their school's fan base, potentially reshaping how smaller-market programs attract recruits. Young athletes may increasingly weigh NIL potential alongside playing time when choosing schools. For fans, such promotions could deepen their connection to players before they've proven themselves on the field, though it may also raise questions about whether commercial visibility is outpacing athletic achievement.