Staub to start Colorado's Friday night Big 12 opener at Houston

Colorado coach Deion Sanders is set to hand the starting job to redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub for Friday night’s Big 12 opener at Houston after Staub’s breakout relief performance in Colorado’s 31-7 win over Delaware on Saturday. Multiple reports and team practice alignments this week indicated the coaching staff will elevate Staub over veteran transfer Kaidon Salter and five star freshman Julian Lewis for the road game.

Staub entered the Delaware game as Colorado’s third string quarterback and completed seven of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, sparking a pair of long scoring drives that turned a tight contest into a decisive win. His efficiency and poise off the bench prompted national attention and immediate calls for a change at the top of the depth chart, including public support from former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, who wrote on social media that Staub should be Colorado’s starter.

Coach Sanders said after the game that he had planned to give each quarterback two series and let performance decide the pecking order. I wanted it to tell its own story, he said. He praised Staub as unflappable and described him as a leader in the room. Sanders also declined...