In one of the bigger surprises of the first month of the college football season, Colorado is pivoting to Ryan Staub as the starting quarterback at Houston on Friday night, sources told ESPN.

Staub began the season as Colorado’s third-string quarterback, an afterthought behind veteran Kaidon Salter and decorated freshman Julian Lewis.

But after shining against Delaware on Saturday by completing 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, the staff has indicated that Staub will be the starter this week, sources said. He was spotted working with the first team in practice on Monday in the open media period.

Coach Deion Sanders, during his Tuesday media availability, said a final decision on Colorado’s starting quarterback against Houston has yet to be determined, though he’d like to have a clear QB1 at the helm.

“I don’t want to play musical chairs at quarterback,” Sanders said. “Why would I want to come to the game and do that? It’s like spinning the darn wheel … I wasn’t good at roulette.”

Salter entered the season with a 23-6 record as a starter. Lewis ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2025, enrolling a year early for the chance to compete at Colorado.

After a season-opening loss to Georgia Tech, Colorado played three quarterbacks in the 31-7 win over Delaware on Saturday. Staub’s performance clearly caught the eye of coach Sanders.

He complimented Staub, a third-year sophomore, for not jumping into the portal and for sticking around Boulder. He called him “a great human being” and portended the starting switch. “I know exactly how I’m going to handle the quarterback situation,” Sanders said on Saturday. “I’m not going to say it, but yeah, I’m not lost for direction.”

So far with the Buffaloes, Salter threw for one touchdown and ran for two more. He is completing 68.2% of his passes.

Lewis debuted against Delaware and finished 2-for-4 passing for 8 yards. Sanders said after the game that Colorado wants to “proceed with caution” with Lewis, who turns 18 later this month.

Staub was an afterthought in the national conversation around Colorado entering the season. He’d started one game in 2023 for the injured Shedeur Sanders, completing 17 of 24 passes against Utah. He threw a touchdown pass to Travis Hunter. Last season, Staub was limited to 20 snaps over four appearances in his backup role.

“He’s the ultimate teammate. He’s the ultimate character guy. Those are the type of guys that we’re looking for,” Sanders said Tuesday. “Oftentimes, those guys don’t come with the three, four or five stars that you guys get excited about. I’m looking more at, ‘Can they play here? Do they fit who we are?'”

Staub was ESPN’s No. 26 overall pocket passing quarterback in the Class of 2023.

He seized his moment by executing a touchdown drive on a two-minute drill to close the half. He opened the second half with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Sincere Brown, and he played the rest of the third quarter.

Staub said postgame: “To be honest, this whole week, I wasn’t really expecting to play. Friday, I kind of got the call and, OK, I might be playing. I was just waiting on an opportunity. Didn’t know it would be a two-minute drill, and kind of the rest is history.”

ESPN’s Max Olson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.