SALT LAKE CITY — Ryan Staub’s best pass of the game was also the biggest one he threw — and his last.

In the fourth quarter of his first career start, Colorado’s freshman quarterback delivered a perfect ball over the middle of the field into the waiting arms of Travis Hunter, who caught the pass at the 4-yard line and carried it all the way into the end zone.

It was his first career touchdown and it cut the Utah lead to six points with 7:31 to play, giving the Buffaloes hope for a win in the season finale.

But he never got the ball back.

The Utes used 12 plays to run out the clock and deny the young Buffaloes quarterback a chance to be the hero in CU’s final game in the Pac-12.

“It’s obviously frustrating,” Staub said of not getting the ball back. “Credit to them, they had a great game plan as well. We scored and left enough time, but they executed that last drive just really, really well.”

The Buffs couldn’t have asked for much more out of Staub on Saturday as he got the start with star quarterback Shedeur Sanders out with an injury.

After his fumble ended CU’s opening drive of the afternoon, Staub didn’t flinch and found a way to get in a groove, finishing 17-for-24 for 195 yards and a touchdown in his first full game of action in a year.

“He refocused and recalibrated himself,” coach Deion Sanders said of Staub’s performance after the early fumble. “You have no idea the leaps and bounds that he’s made because I’ve been there everyday at practice. It was phenomenal.”

While the coach said during the week that there was a chance Shedeur could place this week, Staub said he was told last Sunday that he’d be getting the start as it was apparently decided then that Shedeur would sit out the final game of the season.

“I was nervous, I was excited,” Staub said. “Credit to my coaches. We prepared really hard this week. I know I put a lot of work in the film room and in practice. We were ready to go.”

Led by co-offensive coordinator and play caller Pat Shurmur, the Buffs offense made an adjustment this week to make things easier on Staub with more huddling and less reliance on relaying signals from the sideline.

“We’ve started to build a better connection since he got his promotion,” Staub said of his relationship with Shurmur. “This week, I just think he did an amazing job preparing me, preparing the offense and sort of changing our offensive style in a week to slow down and control the game a little bit more and make things a little bit easier for me with my first start.”

Staub said Shedeur played a role in helping him get ready as well.

“Shedeur was a huge help just (with) confidence and helping me see things, helping me prepare for things,” Staub said.

In the two-minute drill to end the first half, Staub led the offense down the field . It looked like he had found Travis Hunter for a diving catch in the end zone that would’ve given CU the lead in the final minute of the half, but the touchdown was overturned after a replay review.

They still were able to get a field goal that saw the deficit cut to three at the break.

“By then, I think me and the offense had a good amount of confidence,” Staub said. “We were ready to call whatever it was and go out and execute.”

Having Hunter as a weapon was certainly beneficial as Staub found him eight times for 107 yards in the game.

“He’s the best player in college football right now,” Staub said. “He’s a safety net, but he’s also a weapon at the same time. For me having a guy like him in my first start, it was huge. He played great.”

“Great” was also how Staub’s coach described his performance.

One of the biggest question marks all season was what the quarterback position would look like if Shedeur ever had to miss time with an injury.

“I don’t think it’s Staub’s dream to be a number two quarterback,” coach Sanders said. “I’m not gonna forecast that on Mr. Staub. After his performance today, he wants to play somewhere, whether it’s here or somewhere else. He proved that he could play. I’m proud of him.”