The roster shakeup in Boulder isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado program saw three more players hit the transfer portal on Monday, pushing the total number of offseason departures to 23. That’s not just a few guys testing the waters - that’s a full-blown exodus, and it’s touching nearly every corner of the roster.
The latest to enter the portal? Quarterback Ryan Staub.
After three seasons with the Buffaloes, Staub is looking for a fresh start - and more importantly, a clearer path to playing time. He’s got two years of eligibility left and leaves behind 681 passing yards and five total touchdowns, including two starts.
This move isn’t about drama or dissatisfaction - it’s about opportunity. Staub wants to compete, and with Colorado’s QB room centered around Shedeur Sanders, the writing was on the wall.
The window for reps just wasn’t going to open wide enough in Boulder.
But Staub wasn’t the only one packing his bags.
Linebacker Reginald Hughes is also headed for the portal, and his departure stings a little more on the defensive side. Hughes played in all 12 games this season, starting seven of them, and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 48.
That kind of production doesn’t grow on trees, especially in a defense that leaned heavily on veteran presence. Losing Hughes strips away another layer of experience from a unit that already had its hands full trying to find consistency.
And then there’s Braden Keith, a graduate transfer defensive back who announced his decision to move on via social media. Keith kept it classy, thanking Coach Prime and the program for his time in Boulder.
He called his three seasons with the Buffs “a blessing” and closed with a heartfelt “Always a Buff for life.” That’s the kind of exit you respect - a player who gave what he had, then made a decision to chase what’s next.
When you look at these moves individually, they all make sense. Staub wants a shot to start.
Hughes likely sees a better fit elsewhere. Keith is ready for his next chapter.
But taken together, they underscore a bigger truth: Colorado’s offseason is being defined by turnover. The transfer portal isn’t just part of the story - it is the story.
Coach Prime has never been shy about shaking things up, and this level of roster churn isn’t entirely unexpected. But with 23 players now on the move, the Buffaloes are facing another major rebuild heading into 2026.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing - fresh talent, new energy, and a retooled depth chart can all be positives. But it also means continuity will be hard to come by, and chemistry will need to be rebuilt from the ground up.
In today’s college football landscape, the portal giveth and the portal taketh away. For Colorado, it’s taking plenty right now.
The question is - what will Coach Prime bring in to replace it? Stay tuned.
The offseason in Boulder is just getting started.