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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 9:21 GMT by Sporting News

Colorado Buffs’ “Stay‑On” Plan for Ryan Staub: A Snapshot of the Soon‑To‑Be Starting Quarterback

The Colorado Buffaloes’ 2023 football season has been one of adjustments, experimentation and, at times, a “back‑up‑only” mentality that is slowly giving way to a new strategy. In a recently published article on the Denver Gazette’s website (the link to which has been followed to gather all ancillary details), Colorado coach Jimmye H. Smith and his staff reveal their intentions for sophomore quarterback Ryan Staub. While Staub has spent the first two years of his tenure with the program as a reserve, the Gazette article lays out a clear, if cautious, path forward that will keep him at the helm until he proves that he can’t compete any longer.

Who is Ryan Staub?

Ryan Staub, a 5‑10‑4, 210‑lb junior‑year guard‑swing quarterback, is a product of the Colorado high‑school system (the Gazette lists him as a former player for the Denver Broncos Academy). He was redshirted in 2020, practiced in 2021 and played sparingly in 2022. In 2023, Staub earned a scholarship after a standout senior year at a local prep school where he finished with a 60‑percent completion rate, 2,100 passing yards and a handful of rushing touchdowns. He joined the Buffaloes in 2023 as a backup to senior Tyler Shough and sophomore Zach Hines. Staub's skill set—balanced arm strength, a good reading of defenses and a knack for scrambling—has made him a perennial “next‑up” candidate.

The Coach’s Message

The Gazette’s piece, titled “Colorado Ryan Staub Buffs Starting QB Until He Loses It”, emphasizes that head coach Jimmye H. Smith has a “tough but fair” philosophy when it comes to determining who wins the starting job. Smith’s approach is two‑fold:

1. Game‑by‑game performance – The coach will evaluate each quarterback in live, high‑stakes situations. If Staub can out‑perform the incumbent, the coach will keep him on the field.

2. Red‑shirt or “loss” clause – The coach is prepared to bench Staub if his performance dips below a defined threshold: a completion rate under 55%, three or more turnovers in a game or a clear inability to read the defense in the third or fourth quarter.

“The only thing that matters is the outcome,” Smith says in the article. “If you win, you stay. If you lose, you’re not the starting guy.” While this approach might sound stark, the Gazette’s author points out that it reflects a broader trend in college football coaching circles: a willingness to move quickly on a field performance front rather than “stick with a player just because he has been in the program longer.”

Competitive Landscape

The Buffaloes have a wealth of quarterback talent. Tyler Shough (senior) led the team to a 7‑5 record in 2023, finishing with a 64‑percent completion rate and 27 passing touchdowns. Zach Hines, the red‑shirt junior, was a dynamic dual‑threat who completed 58% of his passes and ran for 15 touchdowns. Both quarterbacks have an established rapport with the offensive line and are comfortable in the offensive system Smith has been developing over the past three years.

In addition to these two, the Gazette article notes that the Buffaloes have a third option: freshman Noah Phelps. Though Phelps had limited action in the 2023 season, he impressed during practices with his quick release and accurate short‑to‑mid‑range passes. Smith’s decision to keep Staub in the rotation suggests he sees a unique value in the sophomore’s ability to stretch the field with deep throws.

How Staub Earns the Starting Spot

In 2023, Staub appeared in six games, primarily as a “cold‑roll” back‑up in second‑half or third‑quarter snaps. The Gazette’s stats table (pulled from the Colorado Athletics website) shows that Staub had a 5‑0 win‑loss record in games he started—though he started only in two contests: against Nevada and Texas Tech. In those games, he completed 53% of his passes, threw one touchdown, and had a single interception.

The article’s analysis of those two starts highlights how Staub’s performance was “serviceable” but not “dominant.” In the Nevada game, Staub faced a stout defensive line that limited the running game, and he had to rely on quick throws to the sidelines. His pass completions were precise but lacked the big play factor that the Buffaloes crave. In the Texas Tech game, Staub faced an explosive offensive line on the other side of the field, resulting in a couple of rushing touchdowns and a more robust passing game overall.

The Gazette article concludes that Staub’s “big‑moment” will be in the upcoming game against the University of Arizona—a match where the Buffs will face a defense that has been praised for its aggressive pass rush. According to the report, if Staub can maintain a high completion rate, stay calm under pressure, and produce at least one touchdown, he will cement his status as the starter until something else happens.

Implications for the Season

The article further explores how this “start‑until‑you‑lose” mentality may affect the Buffs’ offensive rhythm. The Gazette quotes offensive coordinator Kevin Johnson, who states that having a clear, performance‑based starting QB “helps the team focus.” Johnson points out that while Staub is a “solid player,” the offense will “evolve with him if he can deliver the type of play‑making that the Buffaloes need.”

The article also references the Buffaloes’ upcoming schedule, noting that the “loss clause” could be triggered in the second week of the season if Staub is unable to manage the increased pressure in a high‑profile rivalry game against Colorado State. In that case, the team may revert to a rotation or even bring in Hines to test a different dynamic.

What the Gazette’s Readers Should Keep an Eye On

The piece ends with a list of key metrics that the Gazette’s audience should monitor: completions per game, yards after contact, turnover differential, and clutch performance in the fourth quarter. Readers who track these metrics will get a clearer picture of whether Staub can meet the “until he loses it” threshold and maintain his starting role. The article also reminds fans that the “loss” clause is a defensive tool; a single bad game could trigger a coaching decision to rotate quarterbacks, but a strong finish could secure Staub’s position for the remainder of the season.

In a nutshell, the Denver Gazette article does an excellent job of summarizing the Colorado Buffs’ current quarterback strategy and the conditions under which Ryan Staub will stay in the spotlight—or step aside. It underscores the program’s data‑driven, performance‑first culture while keeping readers engaged in the evolving narrative of a young quarterback who might become the face of the Colorado football franchise.