Coach Prime says he’s made a decision on the quarterback situation heading into Week 4

The Colorado Buffaloes still don't have a solidified quarterback, but Coach Prime says he's decided on who's starting for the Buffs in Week 4's contest against Wyoming

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Sep 16, 2025, 12:44 PM Updated: 1:06 pm

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The quarterback question has been a plague for the Colorado Buffaloes this season. After Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders gave an equal opportunity to Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis and Ryan Staub in the Week 2 win over Delaware, the situation has gone from a simple quarterback battle between a veteran and a freshman to a dark cloud that has been raining on the Buffs offense.

Staub got the nod in the 36-20 loss against Houston last week, and was the only quarterback to see the field. He played an average game, finishing with 204 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on 19-for-35 passing. He added another 51 yards on eight carries and what should’ve been a touchdown on a scramble that showed shades of John Elway’s famous helicopter run in Super Bowl XXXII.

LOOK AT 1️⃣6️⃣ GO@_RyanStaub x #GoBuffs

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— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 13, 2025

The redshirt sophomore did miss some throws throughout the evening that would’ve moved the chains for Colorado. He led the Buffs to 20 points on offense, but two of the touchdowns were in two-minute situations when the Buffs weren’t running their normal plays. The majority of the game was stagnant for the Staub-led Buffaloes.

IS STAUB STILL THE GUY?

Heading into Week 4’s contest against Wyoming, there has not been word as to whether or not Staub will stay as the starter or if Prime will look in a different direction. The 57-year-old head coach was asked if he had come to a decision on it during his weekly media availability on Tuesday.

“Yeah, yeah. Most definitely I have.”

He was also asked about what he’s looking for in his quarterback(s), and harped on the same idea he’s had in the past.

“Leadership and consistency. That’s it. That ain’t much to ask for, leadership and consistency. I look for that for everyone, every man, every woman that’s involved in my life, leadership and consistency,” Prime said.

He kept a stone cold face and didn’t give a hint as to what his decision will be. All anyone knows is that he’s made that decision, and is keeping it to himself and the team. If he wants to hold true to the statement he made a week ago in saying that he didn’t want to play musical chairs with the position, then Staub would still be the guy. He didn’t commit to that.

DID SALTER GET A FAIR CHANCE?

Here’s the bottom line. Salter got the short end of the stick, and did nothing to lose the job. He led the Buffs offense to six scoring drives out of 15 chances, and since Staub made a few flashier plays against an inferior opponent, he got the nod. Yes, Staub knows the offense better than Salter does given his experience with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, but Salter didn’t do anything that was egregiously poor to end up on the bench after the Delaware game.

Staub has led six scoring drives in 16 attempts, for comparison.

This whole situation has been handled in a confusing way since the start of fall camp when the coaching staff wouldn’t say if Salter or Lewis would be the Week 1 starter, and it has now blown up to a whole different level four weeks into the season. Coach Prime asked what a ‘solidified’ quarterback looks like a last week, and the Buffs are still far away from having one — something that 90% of the country has at this point in the season.

For anyone wondering, a solidified quarterback is one who has the starting job and takes all of the first-team reps in games and in practice. The 15 other teams in the conference all have solidified starters who they know will going to be their guy this season barring some unforeseen circumstances.

Now, the Buffs have two different quarterbacks talented quarterbacks — who they heavily pursued to bring to town — riding the pine while the longtime backup who shined against the worst team on CU’s schedule is taking the reins. That’s not why they came to Boulder, especially Salter. With one year of eligibility left, he came here to play.

Colorado’s game against Wyoming kicks from Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. MDT. There will likely not be a public answer to the quarterback position until the opening kickoff of that game unless Prime says something otherwise. For now, Buffs fans will just have to wait to see what the next turn in their season will be.