(BCSNN) — In a move few could have seen coming when the season began, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has named redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback for Friday night’s Big 12 opener against Houston. Staub, who entered the season as Colorado’s third-string signal caller, leapfrogged veteran Kaidon Salter and heralded freshman Julian Lewis to earn the nod in what Sanders called “a blessing” for the program.

Staub’s rise began in Week 2, when he came off the bench in Colorado’s 31–7 win over Delaware and delivered a breakout performance. The Stevenson Ranch, Calif., native completed 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard strike to Sincere Brown that opened the second half. His poise and efficiency stood in stark contrast to the uneven play of Salter and Lewis, both of whom struggled to generate rhythm in the first half.

“I saw what I’ve been seeing in practice for the last few years,” Sanders said after the game. “This is who he is, who he’s always been. He’s a man of opportunity, that’s all he is. He earned it.”

Staub began the season buried on the depth chart behind Salter, a Liberty transfer with 77 career touchdowns, and Lewis, a five-star recruit who reclassified to join the Buffs early. Salter started Colorado’s first two games, throwing for 261 yards and one touchdown while rushing for two more scores. Lewis, meanwhile, saw limited action and completed just two passes for eight yards. Sanders had previously indicated he wanted to bring Lewis along cautiously, citing the freshman’s youth and long-term potential.

The quarterback carousel reached a turning point late in the second quarter against Delaware, when Sanders inserted Staub with the Buffaloes clinging to a 10–7 lead. Staub promptly led a six-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dekalon Taylor, then returned after halftime to deliver another scoring strike. The performance not only energized the offense but also galvanized the fanbase, with chants of “Staub” echoing through Folsom Field.

Staub’s promotion marks a significant pivot from Colorado’s preseason plans. He had spent the past two seasons backing up Shedeur Sanders and despite limited opportunities, Staub remained with the program through a turbulent offseason and never entered the transfer portal.

“He’s the ultimate teammate,” Sanders said Tuesday. “Going from giving signals to playing in the game. That never happens. Hats off to him.”

Friday’s matchup at Houston will be Staub’s second career start and his first as Colorado’s official QB1. For a Buffaloes team still searching for stability in the post-Shedeur era, Staub’s emergence offers a fresh spark—and perhaps, a new direction.