The Colorado Buffaloes are aiming for a strong season following last year’s 9-4 record. However, this year they face significant challenges without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. The impact was evident in week one when Deion Sanders and his transfer quarterback struggled with clock management.
“Really poor clock management. There's really no other way to look at it. Maybe even after the first play, you call a timeout. Definitely after the second play. You gotta call a timeout. Every second is so precious in that scenario, and you got two timeouts in your back pocket," said ESPN’s Dusty Dvoracek. “The last thing you ever want to do in a situation like this is it comes down to the end and you're fighting with the clock, is to end the game with multiple timeouts in your pocket. That's something that Coach Sanders, Coach Shurmur has got to learn from and get better from moving forward. And same goes for the quarterback Kaidon Salter."
Fast forward to week three, and there’s still no clear answer on who will be the starting quarterback. Sanders’ response to a question about not having a solidified starter was somewhat concerning.
“A solidified Quarterback. Who has one of those? I got time today,” Sanders said during his press conference.
There is growing belief that third-stringer Ryan Staub will start on Friday.
“The fact that Staub is getting praise from him sends a clear message: there’s belief in him. And if anyone knows whether Staub is ready, it’s Sanders, who has thrived under the spotlight before,” SI’s Thomas Gorski wrote. “The endorsement carries extra weight because Staub is stepping into the same role Shedeur just left. Having the trust of someone who’s been there gives Staub confidence and tells teammates — and fans — that he’s capable of leading the offense.”
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Even if Staub starts, there may still be no definitive quarterback following the game against Houston. While many NCAA teams have their starters locked in, Colorado remains uncertain. Heading into a crucial stretch of their schedule, this uncertainty is far from ideal.