Coach Prime slams ESPN and denies reports of Ryan Staub as Colorado’s starting QB

It wouldn’t be a week in Boulder without a little drama.

This morning, we all woke up to headlines claiming Ryan Staub was officially the starting quarterback for Colorado’s Big 12 opener at Houston. ESPN’s Pete Thamel dropped the report, and social media did what social media does — ran with it.

But when Deion Sanders took the podium later this afternoon, he didn’t just pump the brakes. He slammed them.

“I haven’t made that assessment and decision yet,” Coach Prime said, clearly frustrated with the rush to declare Staub QB1. “In today’s media, we don’t care about being correct anymore. We just want to be first. And when you’re wrong, nobody says nothing. You just go with it.”

I respect this. Coach was unafraid to call out the media machine. And honestly? He’s not wrong.

Staub’s Breakout

Still, if we're being honest, Staub has given us plenty of reason to believe Thamel’s report wasn’t exactly pulled out of thin air. Against Delaware, the redshirt sophomore looked like the best quarterback on the roster. He completed 7-of-10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and the offense finally found rhythm with him in command.

Ryan Staub didn’t look like a third-stringer tossed into mop-up duty. He looked like a guy who knows the playbook and can play with confidence.

That’s what made the report so believable in the first place.

A Crowded Room

Let’s not forget — this QB room was supposed to be one of the most intriguing battles of the season. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter brought mobility and experience. Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the five-star freshman, came in with all the hype.

But sometimes football doesn’t follow the script. Staub stayed patient, learned the system under Pat Shurmur, and when the door cracked open, he walked through it.

Now, even if Coach Prime isn’t ready to say it out loud, all signs point toward Staub taking the first snap against Houston. He’s been running with the ones in practice on Monday. And if you know Prime, he doesn’t hand out reps for free.

Prime vs. The Media

What makes this whole thing fascinating is the tug-of-war between Prime and the national media. For ESPN, a quarterback shakeup in Boulder is gold. It creates instant clicks and instant chatter. For Coach Prime, though, controlling the narrative matters.

He doesn’t want decisions announced before he makes them. He hates outsiders shaping the story inside his locker room. And everytime he sees reporters that jump the gun, he calls it out.

That’s part of the culture he’s built in Boulder. Loyalty, trust, and discipline is non-negotiable.

Why It Matters

So what’s at stake here? Simple. Colorado is 1-1, the Big 12 opener is on the road, and Houston is no pushover. Coach Prime knows he can’t afford to play games with the quarterback position. Whoever lines up under center needs to be ready for a dogfight.

If it is Staub, he’ll get thrown right into the fire. Just like in basketball, when Tad Boyle leans on a steady veteran guard to run the offense, Prime may be leaning on a quarterback who brings calm to the huddle.

Staub isn’t a flashy name. But right now, he is the steady hand that understands Pat Shurmur's offense.

Buffs Nation Divided

As I look around on X, fans are split. Some are begging for Lewis to get his shot and are convinced his raw talent will change the program’s ceiling. Some believe Salter was never given a fair shake. And then there’s a growing group of us who watched Staub light up Delaware and thought — “yeah, that guy looks comfortable.”

And in Boulder, hope moves fast.

Final Word

So no, Ryan Staub isn’t officially the starter. But if practice reps mean anything, then the writing is on the wall.

Coach Prime might not like how ESPN framed it, but we know what we saw. Staub gave the offense life, and unless something changes, it feels like his job to lose.

Friday night in Houston will tell us the rest.

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