HOUSTON \u2014 Colorado coach Deion Sanders expressed uncertainty about his quarterback situation after the Buffaloes were dominated 36-20 by Houston in their Big 12 opener Friday night.<\/p>\n
Sanders started Ryan Staub, who began the season as the third-string quarterback, against the hosting Cougars, but Colorado\u2019s offense was underwhelming for most of the night. Staub, who was making his second career start and first since 2023, finished 19-of-35 passing for 204 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaub didn\u2019t play well,\u201d Sanders said after the loss. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t his best, to say the least.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked how he plans to manage the quarterback situation moving forward, Sanders said, \u201cI have no idea. Right now, I\u2019m not thinking about that. I\u2019m thinking about what transpired and how to prevent \u2026 that from happening again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staub became the story of the week for the Buffaloes after entering last week\u2019s win over Delaware and going 7-of-10, passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Though he started the 2023 season finale against Utah, he has primarily been a reserve quarterback and was third on the depth chart behind transfer Kaidon Salter and highly regarded freshman Julian Lewis.<\/p>\n
Sanders gave Staub the starting nod Friday, but the offense struggled out of the gate, punting on its first four possessions. Then, late in the first half, Staub\u2019s mobility and improvisation helped Colorado\u2019s offense come alive as he led two touchdown drives to help the Buffaloes cut a double-digit deficit to two points at halftime.<\/p>\n
The Buffaloes (1-2) started the second half much like the first, with four empty possessions, punting twice, turning it over on a Staub interception and turning it over on downs. Colorado finished the game with just 300 yards of total offense.<\/p>\n
Sanders was frustrated with his team\u2019s all-around performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not struggling, we\u2019re getting our butts kicked,\u201d Sanders said of the defense.<\/p>\n
Colorado allowed Houston to rack up 209 rushing yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m lost for words,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cNo one could have told me that this game was going to turn out like this with the week of preparation that we had, with the meetings that we had, with the film study (we had) \u2026 It wasn\u2019t good. It wasn\u2019t good at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI take full responsibility (for) the foolishness that went on out there that we tried to call football. It wasn\u2019t that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nDeion Sanders did not see this outcome coming: pic.twitter.com\/xDpsKmN0lU<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman, a transfer from Texas A&M, stole the show by accounting for 305 yards of offense and two touchdowns. The Cougars (3-0) are off to their best start since 2016. This is the first time the Cougars have won their Big 12 opener since joining the conference in 2023.<\/p>\n
Big win for Houston<\/p>\n
The Cougars struggled in their first two seasons of Big 12 play, going 4-8 each of the last two years after transitioning from the American Athletic Conference. However, head coach Willie Fritz, who is in his second year with the program after arriving from Tulane, seems to have rejuvenated the Cougars with the help of 30 transfers, including 11 on offense, to help revive a unit that was second worst in the FBS last season.<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s 16-point win is Houston\u2019s largest margin of victory in a Big 12 game since joining the conference. The Cougars\u2019 431-yard offensive output was their best since Sept. 30, 2023, breaking a streak of 21 consecutive games without reaching 400 yards.<\/p>\n
For the third straight week, Houston did not turn the ball over. The Cougars were one of 20 teams that entered the week without committing a turnover, but they are the first to achieve three turnover-free games so far this season.<\/p>\n
Cougars\u2019 offense shines<\/p>\n
Weigman, a former five-star recruit from Cypress, Texas, near Houston, looked like the player he was before injuries disrupted his time at Texas A&M. He was accurate, threw the ball with confidence and made big plays with his legs, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive juke for his second score. He finished 15-of-24 passing for 222 yards.<\/p>\n
\nBig Weig on the run \ud83d\udd7a@ConnerWeigman<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fhM9Oa9brM<\/a><\/p>\n