Deion Sanders could be facing an unexpected quarterback dilemma as Colorado prepares for its trip to Houston. The buzz surrounds top star, the little-known third-stringer who suddenly stepped into the spotlight by guiding the Buffaloes to a 31-7 win over Delaware.
The reality is that Staub has been around all along, serving as Shedeur Sanders’ backup for the past two years. Naturally, opportunities were limited with Shedeur entrenched as the starter, but Staub’s emergence now raises the question: will Coach Prime stick with him as QB1 moving forward? That decision remains to be seen. In the meantime, one Denver columnist made waves by asking what many considered a deliberately provocative question.
“So how long before CU coach Deion Sanders retires Ryan Staub’s jersey number?” wrote Mark Kiszla of the Denver Gazette. “With Heisman winner Travis Hunter and social media sensation Shedeur Sanders gone to the NFL, Colorado needed a new football hero.”
The remark stirred debate over whether Colorado may have acted prematurely in not retiring the numbers of Shedeur and Hunter. But with the team back in the win column and Shedeur now holding a third-string role in Cleveland, some suggested the program should just host a mass retirement ceremony during family weekend to put the issue to rest.
Kiszla’s commentary didn’t stop there. “Let’s be honest,” he added. “Staub is only still on Colorado’s roster because he accepted that no one was going to unseat the coach’s son as starter while Shedeur enjoyed the perks of stardom.”
It was another pointed jab at Sanders, though the reality is Staub has quietly developed in his understudy role. He even started the season finale against Utah two years ago, nearly pulling off an upset in tough November conditions. At the same time, it’s hard to diminish what Shedeur accomplished during his run in Boulder. Both quarterbacks, in their own way, have left their mark on the program.
The 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner stood alone as the only FBS player to rank in the top five nationally in completion percentage (1st, 74.2%), completions per game (2nd, 28.1), passing touchdowns (2nd, 35), passing yards per game (3rd, 327.2), and passer efficiency (5th, 168.8). He became just the fifth player in the last 10 years to achieve that rare combination.
Sanders also authored one of the most remarkable streaks in college football history, throwing a touchdown pass in 49 consecutive games. That run was the longest active streak in Division I (FBS and FCS), the second-longest in NCAA history across all levels, and would even rank as the fourth-longest in NFL history. On top of that, he joined an exclusive group of just 16 players from the FBS and FCS ranks to surpass 14,000 career passing yards. Among those, he stands out as the leader in fewest interceptions and one of only two quarterbacks — alongside Hawaii’s Colt Brennan — to complete over 70 percent of his career attempts.
Those numbers speak for themselves. His unexpected draft-day fall was puzzling, but Sanders is determined to make the most of his opportunity with the Cleveland Browns.
Meanwhile, Ryan Staub honored his former teammate on Saturday, raising his wrist in tribute during a touchdown celebration. His strong showing has given Coach Prime and his staff plenty to evaluate, with Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis also waiting for clarity on their roles moving forward.
“I don’t coach based on star ratings,” Deion Sanders said, noting that he doesn’t care if a quarterback comes in with five-star hype like Lewis. “He played so well the crowd couldn’t help but chant his name.”
Colorado now turns its focus to the start of Big 12 play this Saturday before returning to Boulder for a matchup against Wyoming.