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NCAAF HOUSTON — Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ decision to start quarterback Ryan Staub, who began the season as the team’s third-string quarterback, didn’t go as planned Friday night as the Buffaloes were dominated 36-20 in their Big 12 opener at Houston. 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. It’s the first time the Cougars have won their Big 12 opener since joining the conference in 2023. Advertisement Staub became the story of the week for the Buffaloes after entering last week’s win against 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 for the Buffaloes and was third on the depth chart behind transfer Kaidon Salter and highly regarded freshman Julian Lewis. Sanders gave Staub the starting nod Friday, but the offense struggled out of the gate, punting on its first four possessions. Staub’s mobility and improvisation helped Colorado’s offense come alive late in the first half when he led two touchdown drives to cut the Buffaloes’ double-digit deficit to just two points at halftime. But 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 on downs. Colorado finished the game with 300 yards of total offense. The Cougars struggled in their first two seasons of Big 12 play, going 4-8 each year after transitioning from the American Athletic Conference. But 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 that have revived a unit that was second-worst in the FBS last season. The 16-point win is Houston’s largest margin of victory in a Big 12 game since joining the conference. The Cougars finished with 431 offensive yards. Weigman, a former five-star recruit from Cypress, Texas, near Houston, looked like the player he was early in his career, 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 move on a Colorado defender for his second score. Weigman finished 15-of-24 passing for 222 yards. Big Weig on the run ? @Conner Weigman pic. twitter. com/fh M9Oa9br M — Houston Football (@UHCougar FB) September 13, 2025 Dean Connors, a running back transfer from Rice, had his second consecutive impressive performance, accounting for 111 offensive yards (a team-high 89 rushing and 22 receiving). He had 132 rushing yards and two scores last week in the Cougars’ win against Rice. (Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Sam Khan Jr. is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football and recruiting primarily in Texas. Previously, he spent eight years covering college sports at ESPN. com and seven years as a sports reporter at the Houston Chronicle. A native Houstonian, Sam graduated from the University of Houston. Follow Sam on Twitter @skhanjr