Headed into Week 3 of college football season, the Colorado Buffaloes have named a starting quarterback.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Colorado head coach Deion Sanders plans to give Ryan Staub the start when the Buffaloes hit the road to face Houston on Friday night.
On Monday, Staub was seen running with Colorado’s first-team offense in practice, and the coaching staff has since confirmed he’ll get the nod this week ahead of veteran transfer Kaidon Salter and prized freshman Julian Lewis, both of whom saw action against Delaware in Week 2.
GettyBOULDER, CO – APRIL 19: Ryan Staub #16 of the Colorado Buffaloes plays in the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for ONIT)
Ryan Staub Shined Last Week Against Delaware
Staub, who had been Colorado’s third-string quarterback before last week’s matchup with Delaware, got his chance late in the second quarter and made the most of it—completing 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ 31-7 win.
Staub, a redshirt sophomore from Stevenson, CA, looked completely at ease when called into action late in the second quarter. He orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final minute of the half, finishing it with a 21-yard strike to wide receiver Dekalon Taylor to give the Buffaloes a 17-7 lead at halftime.
He picked up right where he left off, connecting with Sincere Brown for a 71-yard touchdown early in the second half to push the lead to 24-7 and stayed on the field through the remainder of the third quarter.
Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis Were Expected to Compete for Job
As the 2025 season began, it seemed Salter and Lewis were poised to battle for the chance to succeed Shedeur Sanders as Colorado’s starting quarterback—but Staub has claimed the role.
Salter, a transfer from Liberty, started the game and guided Colorado to an early 10-0 lead before Coach Deion Sanders handed the reins to Lewis, the No. 12 overall recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300, for two drives in the second quarter. Both drives ended in punts, and after Delaware narrowed the gap to 10-7, Staub took over.
Salter returned in the fourth quarter for two more drives, which also ended in punts, finishing with 127 total yards of offense. Lewis came back in for Colorado’s final drive to run out the clock in victory formation.
Ryan Staub Remained Dedicated to the Colorado Buffaloes
“To be honest, this whole week, I wasn’t really expecting to play,” Staub said after the Delaware game. “Friday, I kinda got the call and, OK, I might be playing. I was just waiting on an opportunity. Didn’t know it would be a two-minute drill, and kind of the rest is history.”
Staub, who made a single start for the Buffaloes in 2023, said he never once considered transferring—neither during his two years backing up Shedeur Sanders nor after Colorado added Lewis and Salter this offseason. Instead, he fell in love with the process and the program, choosing to stay focused and keep grinding until his opportunity finally came.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Staub said. “I mean, yeah, there’s been a lot of days of a lot of work and some self-doubt and, you know, kind of my own battles. It’s crazy to be rewarded this way. It doesn’t really feel real. But I’m also looking forward to next week.”
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