2026 schedule reveal takeaways: Colorado eyes bounce-back season

By: Xavier Michnewicz and Jake Chau

As coach Deion Sanders approaches his fourth season, he and the Colorado Buffaloes have a tall task of rebounding from a forgettable 3-9 season. For “Coach Prime,” the program sits at a crossroads: bring the national spotlight back to Boulder, or endure another difficult season. 

Colorado football's slate was released on Wednesday, featuring first-ever matchups and bouts against the Big 12’s heavyweights. Notably, the Buffaloes will be tested early, with three of their first four games on the road. 

In those first four games, Colorado will face two Power Four opponents in non/conference play for the first time since 1994. The Buffaloes open the season with a rematch against Georgia Tech in Atlanta before hosting Weber State for the first time in program history. 

They’ll then cue up Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” for a trip just outside the Windy City to face Northwestern. It’ll be Colorado's first time in Evanston since the country artist, now 92-years-old, was 18. 

The Buffaloes remain on the road after Northwestern, traveling to Baylor to close out the season’s first month and open conference play.

Colorado then returns to Folsom Field to host College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Texas Techin its Big 12 home opener.  

After its bye week, Colorado hosts Utah before heading to Stillwater for the first time since 2009 to face Oklahoma State. 

The Buffs hope to avoid a scare on Halloween night when they return to host Kansas State. CU opens November with a trip to Arizona State before hosting Houston in the Coogs’ first-ever trip to Boulder the following week. 

Colorado closes out the regular season with a trip to Cincinnati before hosting UCF. 

Here are our biggest takeaways from Colorado’s schedule release:

Road gauntlet to start season

It’s a good thing quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis gained experience in his freshman season, as he’ll need it for Colorado’s road-heavy start. Weber State should provide a tune-up for a team still finding its rhythm, but nine-win Georgia Tech, bowl-eligible Northwestern and revamped Baylor could have the Buffaloes staring down a 1-3 start.

If the Buffaloes can capture at least one or two road wins, hopefully their start won’t set the precedent for the season the way it did in 2025. 

The Brennan Marion Era?

Coach Prime and the Buffaloes kicked off their 2025 campaign against Georgia Tech, falling 27-20 as Sanders made some head-scratching clock management decisions on the Buffs’ final drive.

Now a year removed, the Buffaloes will go on the road to Atlanta to play the Pop Tart Bowl runners-up. The 2026 season kickoff will be the first look of Buffaloes football with a revamped recruiting class and a new offensive coordinator in Brennan Marion, setting the tone for the rest of the season. 

Saving best teams for themselves 

Of Colorado’s conference opponents, three were among the top four Big 12 teams last season. Fortunately for the Buffaloes, all come to the friendly confines of Folsom Field. Their first Big 12 home game does not come until Week 5 against Texas Tech, just like in 2025.

The difference is that year the Buffaloes lost to BYU by a field goal. If Colorado can capitalize on home-field advantage and pull off an upset of the Red Raiders, it could bode well for the rest of their conference slate at Folsom.

All about family - Buffs football licks wounds after Utah blowout

Rice-Eccles Stadium was the site of perhaps the most embarrassing loss in the Coach Prime era as Utah dismantled the Buffs 53-7 last October. This year, Colorado will come off its bye week with refreshed legs and renewed energy to avenge their 46 point loss. The Family Weekend contest at Folsom Field is sure to be closer than last time in the 15th consecutive year of Buffaloes vs. Utes on the gridiron.

Overcoming adversity makes good stories, just look at coach Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers. Coach Prime faces plenty after the least successful season of his tenure, with a massive $54 million price tag attached to his name. If Sanders can right the ship around and lead his team back to a bowl game, the 2026 Buffaloes could write themselves back into the national narrative.