BOULDER — Not many expected third-string QB Ryan Staub to have such an impressive outing Saturday, but he was just following his dream.

That dream was to be the starting quarterback of the Colorado Buffaloes. Despite being the third of three quarterbacks to see the field in a 31-7 win over Delaware, the redshirt sophomore from Stevenson Ranch, Calif., might have earned himself a promotion from the third-team.

“I was just hoping for an opportunity. To be honest, this whole week, I wasn’t really expecting to play,” Staub said. “Friday I kinda got the call. I didn’t know (my first drive) would be a two-minute drill. The rest is history.”

Indeed it is.

Sanders revealed earlier in the week that five-star freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis would play in the team’s second game of the season, in addition to starter Kaidon Salter, but he didn’t reveal that it would be a three-man rotation at quarterback.

Sanders said he made his decision late in the week that Salter, Lewis and Staub would get two possessions each, in that order.

“Instead of me telling the story, I wanted it to tell its own story. Somebody was gonna come out of the pack,” Sanders said.

Salter led the Buffs to 10 points on the offense’s first two drives, but Lewis’ two series resulted in a pair of punts. When the sixth CU possession of the afternoon arrived — with just 45 seconds left in the half and immediately after a Delaware touchdown — Sanders didn’t care. It was Staub’s turn.

After a pair of incompletions, DeKalon Taylor broke off a 23-yard run to near midfield to keep the drive alive. Staub followed that with back-to-back completions of 31 yards and 21 yards to Joseph Williams and Taylor, respectively. The latter ended in the end zone to give the Buffs a 17-7 lead and what felt like a big lift going into the locker room.

“That comes with a lot of reps and a lot of savvy,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said of Staub’s performance in the two-minute drill. “He handled it great. It didn’t surprise me one bit that the guys that were in there playing were rooting for him because he has that spirit.”

Just like he was supposed to, Staub got his second series to open the second half. He only needed three plays to go 75 yards and add to the team’s lead with a 71-yard strike to Sincere Brown.

From there, he was Coach Prime’s guy — and the crowd’s, too.

“He balled out so much the whole student section was chanting his name,” Sanders said.

Staub got another two possessions and led a third touchdown drive as the Buffs cashed in on a blocked punt and a short field to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter.

“It’s kinda crazy,” Staub said. “There’s been a lot of days of a lot of work and some self doubt and kinda my own battles. It’s crazy to be rewarded this way. It doesn’t really feel real.”

After sitting behind Shedeur Sanders for two seasons, making one start at Utah at the end of the 2023 season, Staub watched this offseason as the Buffs brought in Salter from the transfer portal and Lewis, one of the top high school players in the country. Yet, he decided to stick it out.

“To be honest, I don’t know (why),” Staub admitted. “I kinda fell in love with the process. I really enjoyed being here, I enjoyed being in this building under our coach. I didn’t really know where I was at. I stuck my head down, kept working and got rewarded for that.”

Now, he may just be in the driver’s seat to be the starting quarterback when CU takes the field next Friday night at Houston in the Big 12 opener. While Lewis likely won’t get much consideration after going just 2-for-4 passing for 8 yards during his time on the field, Staub and Salter could make a claim to starting.

Staub, who gave a boost to his teammates and the fan base with his performance, finished with 157 passing yards on 7-for-10 with a pair of touchdowns. Salter was 13-for-16 for 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Sanders knows what he’s going to do next week — he’s just not telling anyone yet.

“I know exactly who I’m gonna handle the quarterback situation,” he said. “I’m not gonna say it. I’m not lost for direction.”