Colorado might have to find replacement for star transfer

Mike Farrell Sports’ Scott Salomon claimed that Coach Prime’s Colorado football program may have to find a replacement for Shedeur Sanders under center in a rebuff of Travis Hunter’s championship expectations for the 2024 Buffs.

“While Hunter is talking about winning a national title, he must realize that Coach Prime still has no offensive line, a shaky defense, and might have to find a replacement for Sanders, the quarterback, who sources say suffered a fractured back, which kept him out of the season finale against Utah,” Salomon prefaced before saying, “Perhaps their biggest goal should be acclimating to the Big XII, where they begin play in 2024, and maybe becoming bowl-eligible.”

That Sanders comment was as alarmist as a statement can get. While some think Shedeur would be better off forgoing one last season under his father in 2024 for his own NFL dreams, nothing’s indicating that an injury could keep him out of action next season. As for the Hunter part, well, Salomon isn’t wrong. A national championship is too high of a benchmark for the Buffs to reach in all reality, but a bowl game is the logical next goal for a team that missed eligibility by two games in 2023.

Colorado football could have sturdy Shedeur Sanders backup in Ryan Staub

Credit Ryan Staub for stepping up and delivering a near-200-yard passing effort to go along with a touchdown pass to Hunter. Coach Prime certainly did following the Buffs’ 23-17 season finale loss to Utah.

“He refocused and recalibrated himself — I’m proud of Staub,” Coach Prime said on November 25 following the narrow loss in Salt Lake City. “You have no idea the leaps and bounds that he’s made, because I’ve been there every day at practice, so it was phenomenal.”

With big-game experience under his belt against a Pac-12 power that’s set to make the Big 12 jump with Colorado, Staub has solidified his standing as Shedeur’s primary backup in 2024.

And perhaps a future starter in 2025 and beyond.