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Colorado Daily – Houston Week
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September 12th – Game Day!
… CU in a few minutes …
Updated CU injury report: Running backs Dallan Hayden and Simeon Price upgraded to “Probable”
OUT
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Scouting Report: Houston
From the Daily Camera …
5 Cougars to Watch
NT Carlos Allen: Leader up front finished last year with 43 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He is a sixth-year senior who played his first four seasons at Kennesaw State and has 11 tackles so far this year.
RB Dean Connors: Leads the Cougars with 182 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He spent the previous three years at Rice, rushing for 1,679 yards and 16 touchdowns.
TE Tanner Koziol: Came to Houston in the offseason after an exceptional career at Ball State, where he was two-time All-MAC. Last year, he caught 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s been targeted on 29% of Houston’s throws this year, catching 13 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
CB Latrell McCutchin Jr.: A returning starter for the Cougars, he’s posted 13 tackles (tied for the team lead) through two games, with one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Last year, he had 37 tackles and three pass breakups.
QB Conner Weigman: Texas A&M transfer threw for 2,964 yards and 19 touchdowns (seven interceptions) in 13 career starts with the Aggies. Last year, he struggled a bit, completing 56.1% of his passes for 819 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions, but he’s off to a good start this year. He’s completed 30-of-46 throws (65.2%) for 347 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
When Houston has the ball …
One of the worst offenses in the country last year, Houston had a makeover in the offseason and is more dangerous than it was in 2024. Last year, the Cougars averaged 14.0 points and hit the 20-point mark just three times. They’ve scored 27 and 35 in their two games this year. New quarterback Conner Weigman has been sharp as a passer this year, leaning mainly on his big tight end, Tanner Koziol. The Cougars often use two tight ends because the run game is a big part of the offense. So far, they have run the ball on 63.2% of their snaps. Dean Connors, Stacy Sneed and Weigman have been the primary ball carriers. Connors has shown some toughness on his runs and Weigman can be a running threat. CU had a rough opening night against the run versus Georgia Tech, but showed improvement last week against Delaware. This should be a better test this week. “We’ve just gotta dominate the line of scrimmage,” CU defensive line coach Domata Peko said. “That sort of comes to every game. It’s dominating our guy, winning our 1-on-1s. … I’m excited for the boys. This has been the best week of practice that I’ve seen so far that we’ve been here. So I’m really excited for our group.”
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September 10th
… CU in a few minutes …
Defensive tackles coach Domata Peko: “We’re not loafing out there”
“We just have to go out, put hands on people, maintain gap leverages and we’ll be okay.” Buffaloes defensive tackles coach Domata Peko told the media following Colorado’s practice on Wednesday. “That is what it comes down to every game: winning our one-on-ones.”
“I feel like our group is really hunting out there,” he added. “I don’t know if you saw the play where big (Anquin) Barnes ran 30 yards down the field, and he is a nose guard. So anytime you see guys running around and hunting like that, it opens up a lot of people’s eyes. That is what I am encouraged about our group. We’re not loafing out there. We’re giving effort. We’re playing hard and we’re running to the ball, so that is what really popped off to me.”
… Video from YouTube, courtesy of Brian Howell at the Daily Camera …
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CU Injury Report: WR Omarion Miller; RB Dallan Hayden; RB Simeon Price listed as “questionable”
… New this season … The Big 12 is requiring teams – for conference games only – to issue injury reports in the days leading up to the game. There should also be an updated report posted on Friday before the game …
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September 9th
… CU in a few minutes …
*Coach Prime’s Weekly Press Conference*
… Coach Prime starts at about 25:50 … Before then … Defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain and running back Simeon Price …
… Coach Prime: Looking for one starter: “I don’t want to play musical chairs with my quarterbacks” … On story on Ryan Staub being named starter: “Nobody cares about being right. They just want to be first” … On having a solidified quarterback situation: “Solidified quarterback? What does that mean? … I like where we are at. I like what we’ve got” …
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ESPN: CU to start Ryan Staub against Houston
From ESPN … Colorado is expected to start Ryan Staub at quarterback for the game at Houston on Friday night, per ESPN sources. He entered the Delaware game on Saturday as the third-string quarterback and shined, completing 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Staub was spotted working with the first-team in practice on Monday, and the staff has made clear that Staub will start this week.
Staub started one game for Colorado in 2023. Deion Sanders said in the Delaware postgame – “I’m not lost for direction” – when asked about the future at quarterback.
He gets the nod over veteran transfer Kaidon Salter and highly-regarded freshman Julian Lewis, who both played against Delaware.
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September 8th
… CU in a few minutes …
Kickoff time finally set for CU v. Wyoming – another national television game for Buffs
Week 4 – 9/20
- Texas Tech at Utah, 12pm ET on FOX
- SMU at TCU, 12pm ET on ESPN or ESPN2 – network designation after the games of 9/13
- North Carolina at UCF, 3:30pm ET on FOX
- West Virginia at Kansas, 6pm ET on FS1
- Arizona State at Baylor, 7:30pm ET on FOX
- BYU at East Carolina, 7:30pm ET on ESPN2
- Wyoming at Colorado, 10:15pm ET on ESPN
- Fri., 9/19: Tulsa at Oklahoma State is now 7:30pm ET on ESPN – previously announced as 7pm ET
- Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, and Kansas State
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Buffs still have plenty to work on as Big 12 play begins
From the Daily Camera … Going into this week, much of the outside focus will be on the quarterback position, as Staub pushed himself into contention for the starting role. Senior Kaidon Salter has started both games and has been solid, but head coach Deion Sanders was noncommittal on who would start against Houston.
While Buff Nation focuses on the quarterback battle, however, the Buffs know the to-do list is much longer than that with the all-important conference opener on tap.
“We’re getting ready for week three against Houston here on a Friday night, and we’ve got a lot of stuff to clean up,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “I think that would be fair to say, and it’s really not cliche. That’s just kind of where we’re at.”
Offensively, CU has been decent at times, but hardly consistent.
The Buffs are averaging a solid 138.5 yards per game on the ground, a dramatic improvement from the past two years when they were last in the country (65.2 in 2024, 68.9 in 2023).
Overall, however, CU is posting just 351.5 yards (92nd nationally) and 25.5 points per game (83rd).
“I feel like we left some yards out there today, both run and pass,” Shurmur said Saturday. “Got a little sloppy at times, but again, 31 points.”
CU is still trying to figure things out defensively, too.
Although the Buffs allowed just seven points on Saturday, Delaware posted 396 yards in total offense. CU ranks 116th nationally in allowing 429.5 yards per game.
Against Delaware, the defense finished well, coming up with a fumble recovery, an interception, a blocked punt, two fourth-down stops and a missed field goal. However, they gave up 14 plays of 10 yards or more and racked up 13 missed tackles.
The Buffs got away with some mistakes against Delaware, but know that likely won’t be the case as they move forward.
… Continue reading story here …
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September 7th
… CU in a few minutes …
Ryan Staub the unexpected hero: “I stuck my head down and just decided to keep working”
… Related … “Third-string QB Ryan Staub seizes chance, lifts Colorado to win” … from ESPN
… Related … “Deion Sanders details Colorado QB dilemma after Ryan Staub shines: What’s next for Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis” … from CBS Sports …
From the Daily Camera … Every offseason in recent years, the NCAA transfer portal is loaded with guys like Ryan Staub: quarterbacks looking for an opportunity they weren’t otherwise getting.
Staub never joined them in the portal, however.
“To be honest, I don’t know (why),” Colorado’s sophomore quarterback said. “I kind of fell in love with the process. I really enjoyed being here. I enjoyed being in this building, under our coach. … I stuck my head down and just decided to keep working, and I got rewarded for that.”
The reward was Saturday, as he came off the bench and starred in Colorado’s 31-7 rout of Delaware at Folsom Field.
The third quarterback to enter the game for the Buffs, he went 7-for-10 for 157 yards and two touchdowns, while leading them to the end zone three times.
“The talk of the town right now is Stauby and I love him,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said. “I appreciate him.
“He balled out so much, the whole student section was chanting his name. I said, ‘You got to be kidding me. Staub, they’re chanting your darn name back there.’ So that’s a blessing for me.”
Until Friday, Staub didn’t even think he’d be playing, let alone starring.
After playing behind star Shedeur Sanders as the Buffs’ No. 2 quarterback the past two years, Staub entered this season third on the depth chart — behind newcomers Kaidon Salter and JuJu Lewis.
A lot of quarterbacks would have transferred in that situation, but while outsiders viewed this as a two-man race to replace Shedeur – between Salter and Lewis – CU’s staff always believed in Staub.
“Staub and I had become very close, and I appreciate him because of the way he plays the position,” said offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who is in his third season coaching Staub.
… Continue reading story here …
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CU defense – Better to be lucky than good?: “We’ve got to tighten up some things”
From the Daily Camera … Allowing just seven points is a stat that any defensive coordinator will take on a game day.
Yet even in a relatively easy, 31-7 rout of Delaware on Saturday at Folsom Field, the Colorado defense showed some holes.
Delaware posted 396 yards, including 14 plays of 10 yards or more. The Buffs were solid against the run, but tackling was an issue as the Blue Hens hit numerous explosive plays.
“We’ve got to tighten up some things,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said. “We made some plays. We just got to be a little tighter defensively and understand our assignments and alignment and tackle at all times.”
Even some veterans, such as cornerbacks Preston Hodge and DJ McKinney, had some struggles on Saturday.
Two games into the season, CU has given up 31 plays of 10 yards or more. That cost the Buffs in a 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech on Aug. 29. On Saturday, the defense was at least able to rally after the big plays.
CU forced four punts – blocking one – and two turnovers, while also coming up two fourth-down stops.
“We just don’t flinch,” linebacker Jeremiah Brown said of the defense regrouping after big plays by Delaware. “I mean, they’re a good team, too. They’re on scholarship, just like we are out there, so they’re gonna make their plays too. So it’s just trusting ourselves, and when whoever gives up the play, just crowding around and letting them know we all right. We’re gonna stand for you and we’re gonna be good.”
… Continue reading story here …
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5 Replies to “Colorado Daily – Houston Week”
Here I am again game day, and it’s the same ole crap. No offense all stupid play calling, oline sucks again, but this time Im not blaming the talent. This no name O-Line coach, wtf is he doing.
We all know the OC sucks.
I’m not going to go on a rant this time, but all I’m going to say is we will not win more than 3 games and someone needs to be fired. Now. Honestly. This is pathetic stuff and embarrassing. I don’t even get excited for game day anymore. You know what you’re going to get and it’s only going to get worse and then the off season will be brutal. So many people are going to hit the transfer portal, and we don’t recruit. Deion won’t be here long, and then we will need another HC and then he will be working with basically nobody on the roster. It’s going to get really bad!
Below is snips & parts of an interview with the OC who recruited Ryan to CU:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2025/09/12/ryan-staub-deion-sanders-colorado-football-quarterback/86065734007/
““My take is he’s the best quarterback of the three, period, no matter how they got there,” Sanford said in an interview this week with USA TODAY Sports…
Staub played high school football at West Ranch High… [which] is situated in a “dang wind tunnel,” as Sanford remembers it when he visited him there as Colorado’s offensive coordinator…”
““I went out there to watch him throw,” Sanford said. “He was sweet, man, really, really good throwing session, did not miss throws. … and he just consistently was just piercing into headwinds, piercing it and throwing super accurate passes to two or three of his high school receivers. He just didn’t miss.”
“He led his high school team to a 19-4 record as a starter and had 5,422 yards passing along with 687 yards rushing on 66 carries. Besides his throwing ability, Sanford admired his humble but confident character and marveled at his running ability.”
There’s much more in the article, I cut it up a bit.
So, Ryans’ no slouch and he’s been putting in his time behind Sanders learning all he could from everybody; Hunter, Sanders, all three, his receivers, and etc. He could be the feel good story of the season if he plays well enough to led them to wins.
Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Nothing but positive thoughts Ryan.
Mixed feelings about this one, Salter did not play poorly against Delaware, Staub played well, but I am not sure Salter wouldn’t have won the game going away either. I will say this, it takes balls to change a QB out who is not playing poorly, and substitute in someone who you think will play better, I mean remember Saban substituting in Tua?
I think your mixed feelings are reasonable. But consider this: Kaidon did ok. Ryan did better. I think Ryan is the best read and react qb on the roster. The most athletic? Most likely not. But athletic enough. And he can make all the throws. Accurately. I will say it again, small sample size, but it’s growing. And for the coaches? The sample size is way, way larger.
So why were Kaidon and June the only talk of the offseason? Well, call it punditry, if you want. But if you were paying attention, nobody inside that building wrote off Ryan. Deion even sent all three up to a presser.
Cannot wait for Friday. It is likely to be highly illuminating.
Go Buffs
I love those Prime pressers. I’m fired up to see this team on Friday. For my shurmur hating friends, if he’s responsible for holding Kaidon and Julian back, is he also responsible for Staub playing well? Granted, it’s a small sample size so far, but Ryan’s done well every chance he’s had.
Kaidon is likely way more athletic, but now that teams have two years of film on him, they might be able to limit his mobility and force him into areas where he’s less gifted?
Julian definitely looks the part, but he’s pretty young.
I’m obviously getting way ahead of myself here, but the QB scene for the rest of this season, and the offseason, is going to be pretty interesting in Boulder. Don’t count out Ryan. Looking forward to seeing what he does on Friday. I hope he lights it up.
Go Buffs