Colorado University Athletics
Colorado Football’s 2026 Schedule Released by Big 12 Conference
January 21, 2026 | Football
DALLAS – The Big 12 Conference released the University of Colorado's 2026 football schedule on Wednesday, with the Buffaloes enjoying an exciting slate of home games in which they'll welcome three 10-win teams from a season ago to Folsom Field.
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CU will open the 2026 season at Georgia Tech before hosting Weber State and then heading to Northwestern. With CU also opening the Big 12 conference season on the road at Baylor, CU will have three road games in the first month of the season. It's been over a half century since the Buffs opened the year with three games on the road as CU had road games at LSU, Michigan and Air Force early in the 1974 season.
After that September gauntlet, the Buffs will return to the friendly confines of Folsom Field to host CFP participant Texas Tech in its Big 12 Conference home opener and after a bye, Colorado will host another 10-win team from last season when Utah visits Boulder for Family Weekend on Oct. 17.
Colorado then heads to Oklahoma State and hosts Kansas State on Halloween to close out October before heading to Arizona State to open November. A third 10-win team, Houston, visits Folsom Field on November 14 for Homecoming before CU travels to Cincinnati and then hosts UCF to close out the regular season.
Colorado has rarely faced two Power Four teams on the road in the non-conference season, but it has at times produced special seasons, most notably the last time it happened, 1994, when CU played at Michigan and at Texas in back to back weeks, and in 1971 when CU famously beat two top 10 teams on the road, LSU in the season opener and Ohio State two weeks later. In 1994, CU finished No. 2 in the final AP poll and in 1971, the Buffs were No. 3 in the final poll.
Aside from 1971 and 1994, CU also traveled to two Power Four schools in 1951, 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1980, meaning this will be just the eighth time it's happened and the first time since that magical 1994 season.
In addition to the 1974 season, CU has started the season with three of its four games on the road 12 previous times: 1900, 1908, 1919, 1934, 1938, 1940, 1958, 1962, 1968, 1973 and 1974.
At home, Colorado will be welcoming three teams that have never been to Boulder and four teams that were bowl-eligible a year ago.
2026 Colorado Football Schedule Breakdown
Week 1 – Saturday, Sept. 5
at Georgia Tech
Atlanta, Ga.
Series history: Georgia Tech leads 1-0
Last meeting: Georgia Tech 27-20, August 29, 2025.
Notes: The second of a home-and-home, the Buffs head to Atlanta to seek revenge on the Yellow Jacket's 27-20 win last year in Boulder. This will be just the second game in the state of Georgia for the Buffs, who do have a strong recruiting presence in the state, especially in the Coach Prime era. CU also played at Georgia in 2006.
Week 2 – Saturday, Sept. 12
vs. Weber State
Folsom Field
Series history: First Meeting.
Last meeting: None.
Notes: The Buffs host Weber State in the first meeting between the two schools from the Rocky Mountain region.
Week 3 – Saturday, Sept. 19
at Northwestern
Evanston, Ill.
Series history: Series tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Colorado 56-7, Sept. 30, 1978 in Boulder.
Notes: Just the third meeting between the two and first in 48 years. This will be CU's first trip to Evanston in 75 years, falling 35-14 in 1951. CU will be one of the first opponents to face the Wildcats in their renovated stadium, Ryan Field, which has been closed since 2023 while being rebuilt.
Week 4 – Saturday, Sept. 26
at Baylor
Waco, Texas
Series history: Colorado leads, 10-7
Last meeting: Colorado 38-31 in overtime, Sept. 21, 2024 in Boulder.
Notes: Colorado heads to Waco for the first time since the 2007 season and looks to improve upon its 4-2 record there. This is the second meeting of the two since rejoining the Big 12, the first being an overtime thriller that saw Shedeur Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester with a 43-yard pass as time expired to force overtime. After the Buffaloes opened OT with a touchdown, Travis Hunter had a walk-off forced fumble at the goal line to preserve CU's win.
Week 5 – Saturday, Oct. 3
vs. Texas Tech
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads, 6-5
Last meeting: Colorado 41-17, Nov. 9, 2024 in Lubbock.
Notes: Reigning Big 12 champs Texas Tech visits Boulder for the first time since the 2010 season. In the first meeting since rejoining the Big 12, the Buffs knocked off the Red Raiders in Lubbock, 41-27, in a physical meeting in 2024.
Week 6 – Saturday, Oct. 10
BYE
Week 7 – Saturday, Oct. 17
vs. Utah (Family Weekend)
Folsom Field
Series history: Utah leads, 36-33-3
Last meeting: Utah 53-7, Oct. 25, 2025.
Notes: Utah avenged a 49-24 loss in 2024 with a 53-7 win last year as the two meet for the 15th straight season, the longest active streak for CU against any opponent. This 73rd match-up between the schools is also Family Weekend in Boulder.
Week 8 – Saturday, Oct. 24
at Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Okla.
Series history: Colorado leads, 27-20-1
Last meeting: Colorado 52-0, Nov. 29, 2024.
Notes: The Buffs will head to Stillwater for the first time since 2009 and will be looking for their first win there since 2005. CU beat up on the Cowboys 52-0 in the regular season finale in 2024 behind 438 yards and 5 TDs from Shedeur Sanders with both LaJohntay Wester (11-175-2) and Travis Hunter (10-116-3) having 10-plus receptions and multiple receiving touchdowns.
Week 9 – Saturday, Oct. 31
vs. Kansas State
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads 45-22-1
Last meeting: Kansas State 24-17, Nov. 29, 2025 in Manhattan.
Notes: A Halloween matchup with longtime rival Kansas State, this will be the third straight season the two will meet since CU rejoined the Big 12. K-State has eked out victories in the two previous meetings, 31-28 in 2024 in Boulder and 24-17 in last season's finale in Manhattan.
Week 10 – Saturday, Nov. 7
at Arizona State
Tempe, Ariz.
Series history: Arizona State leads 11-4.
Last meeting: Arizona State 42-17, Nov. 22, 2025
Notes: Colorado lost the first seven games in the series, but the last eight have been split, 4-4, with Colorado winning the last time in Tempe, 27-24, in 2023.
Week 11 – Saturday, Nov. 14
vs. Houston (Homecoming)
Folsom Field
Series history: Tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Houston 36-20, Sept. 12, 2025 in Houston.
Notes: Houston's first trip to Boulder will be on Homecoming for the Buffs, marking just the third matchup between the two schools. CU beat Houston 29-17 in the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl and fell 36-20 last season.
Week 12 – Saturday, Nov. 21
at Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Series history: Colorado leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Colorado 34-23, Oct. 26, 2024 in Boulder .
Notes: Colorado's first trip to Cincinnati and third-ever game against the Bearcats. CU won 56-14 in 1972 and 34-23 in 2024 behind Travis Hunter (9 catches, 153 yards, 2 TDs), Shedeur Sanders (323 yards, 2 TDs) and Isaiah Augustave (91 rushing yards, 1 TD). This will be just CU's fifth game in the state of Ohio.
Week 13 – Saturday, Nov. 28
vs. UCF
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads, 1-0
Last meeting: Colorado 48-21, Sept. 28, 2024 in Orlando.
Notes: UCF's first trip to Boulder and the second match-up between the two schools. In 2024, Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns and Travis Hunter had 9 receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown in addition to an interception on defense.
BUY SEASON TICKETS NOW!
CU will open the 2026 season at Georgia Tech before hosting Weber State and then heading to Northwestern. With CU also opening the Big 12 conference season on the road at Baylor, CU will have three road games in the first month of the season. It's been over a half century since the Buffs opened the year with three games on the road as CU had road games at LSU, Michigan and Air Force early in the 1974 season.
After that September gauntlet, the Buffs will return to the friendly confines of Folsom Field to host CFP participant Texas Tech in its Big 12 Conference home opener and after a bye, Colorado will host another 10-win team from last season when Utah visits Boulder for Family Weekend on Oct. 17.
Colorado then heads to Oklahoma State and hosts Kansas State on Halloween to close out October before heading to Arizona State to open November. A third 10-win team, Houston, visits Folsom Field on November 14 for Homecoming before CU travels to Cincinnati and then hosts UCF to close out the regular season.
Colorado has rarely faced two Power Four teams on the road in the non-conference season, but it has at times produced special seasons, most notably the last time it happened, 1994, when CU played at Michigan and at Texas in back to back weeks, and in 1971 when CU famously beat two top 10 teams on the road, LSU in the season opener and Ohio State two weeks later. In 1994, CU finished No. 2 in the final AP poll and in 1971, the Buffs were No. 3 in the final poll.
Aside from 1971 and 1994, CU also traveled to two Power Four schools in 1951, 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1980, meaning this will be just the eighth time it's happened and the first time since that magical 1994 season.
In addition to the 1974 season, CU has started the season with three of its four games on the road 12 previous times: 1900, 1908, 1919, 1934, 1938, 1940, 1958, 1962, 1968, 1973 and 1974.
At home, Colorado will be welcoming three teams that have never been to Boulder and four teams that were bowl-eligible a year ago.
2026 Colorado Football Schedule Breakdown
Week 1 – Saturday, Sept. 5
at Georgia Tech
Atlanta, Ga.
Series history: Georgia Tech leads 1-0
Last meeting: Georgia Tech 27-20, August 29, 2025.
Notes: The second of a home-and-home, the Buffs head to Atlanta to seek revenge on the Yellow Jacket's 27-20 win last year in Boulder. This will be just the second game in the state of Georgia for the Buffs, who do have a strong recruiting presence in the state, especially in the Coach Prime era. CU also played at Georgia in 2006.
Week 2 – Saturday, Sept. 12
vs. Weber State
Folsom Field
Series history: First Meeting.
Last meeting: None.
Notes: The Buffs host Weber State in the first meeting between the two schools from the Rocky Mountain region.
Week 3 – Saturday, Sept. 19
at Northwestern
Evanston, Ill.
Series history: Series tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Colorado 56-7, Sept. 30, 1978 in Boulder.
Notes: Just the third meeting between the two and first in 48 years. This will be CU's first trip to Evanston in 75 years, falling 35-14 in 1951. CU will be one of the first opponents to face the Wildcats in their renovated stadium, Ryan Field, which has been closed since 2023 while being rebuilt.
Week 4 – Saturday, Sept. 26
at Baylor
Waco, Texas
Series history: Colorado leads, 10-7
Last meeting: Colorado 38-31 in overtime, Sept. 21, 2024 in Boulder.
Notes: Colorado heads to Waco for the first time since the 2007 season and looks to improve upon its 4-2 record there. This is the second meeting of the two since rejoining the Big 12, the first being an overtime thriller that saw Shedeur Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester with a 43-yard pass as time expired to force overtime. After the Buffaloes opened OT with a touchdown, Travis Hunter had a walk-off forced fumble at the goal line to preserve CU's win.
Week 5 – Saturday, Oct. 3
vs. Texas Tech
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads, 6-5
Last meeting: Colorado 41-17, Nov. 9, 2024 in Lubbock.
Notes: Reigning Big 12 champs Texas Tech visits Boulder for the first time since the 2010 season. In the first meeting since rejoining the Big 12, the Buffs knocked off the Red Raiders in Lubbock, 41-27, in a physical meeting in 2024.
Week 6 – Saturday, Oct. 10
BYE
Week 7 – Saturday, Oct. 17
vs. Utah (Family Weekend)
Folsom Field
Series history: Utah leads, 36-33-3
Last meeting: Utah 53-7, Oct. 25, 2025.
Notes: Utah avenged a 49-24 loss in 2024 with a 53-7 win last year as the two meet for the 15th straight season, the longest active streak for CU against any opponent. This 73rd match-up between the schools is also Family Weekend in Boulder.
Week 8 – Saturday, Oct. 24
at Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Okla.
Series history: Colorado leads, 27-20-1
Last meeting: Colorado 52-0, Nov. 29, 2024.
Notes: The Buffs will head to Stillwater for the first time since 2009 and will be looking for their first win there since 2005. CU beat up on the Cowboys 52-0 in the regular season finale in 2024 behind 438 yards and 5 TDs from Shedeur Sanders with both LaJohntay Wester (11-175-2) and Travis Hunter (10-116-3) having 10-plus receptions and multiple receiving touchdowns.
Week 9 – Saturday, Oct. 31
vs. Kansas State
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads 45-22-1
Last meeting: Kansas State 24-17, Nov. 29, 2025 in Manhattan.
Notes: A Halloween matchup with longtime rival Kansas State, this will be the third straight season the two will meet since CU rejoined the Big 12. K-State has eked out victories in the two previous meetings, 31-28 in 2024 in Boulder and 24-17 in last season's finale in Manhattan.
Week 10 – Saturday, Nov. 7
at Arizona State
Tempe, Ariz.
Series history: Arizona State leads 11-4.
Last meeting: Arizona State 42-17, Nov. 22, 2025
Notes: Colorado lost the first seven games in the series, but the last eight have been split, 4-4, with Colorado winning the last time in Tempe, 27-24, in 2023.
Week 11 – Saturday, Nov. 14
vs. Houston (Homecoming)
Folsom Field
Series history: Tied, 1-1
Last meeting: Houston 36-20, Sept. 12, 2025 in Houston.
Notes: Houston's first trip to Boulder will be on Homecoming for the Buffs, marking just the third matchup between the two schools. CU beat Houston 29-17 in the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl and fell 36-20 last season.
Week 12 – Saturday, Nov. 21
at Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Series history: Colorado leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Colorado 34-23, Oct. 26, 2024 in Boulder .
Notes: Colorado's first trip to Cincinnati and third-ever game against the Bearcats. CU won 56-14 in 1972 and 34-23 in 2024 behind Travis Hunter (9 catches, 153 yards, 2 TDs), Shedeur Sanders (323 yards, 2 TDs) and Isaiah Augustave (91 rushing yards, 1 TD). This will be just CU's fifth game in the state of Ohio.
Week 13 – Saturday, Nov. 28
vs. UCF
Folsom Field
Series history: Colorado leads, 1-0
Last meeting: Colorado 48-21, Sept. 28, 2024 in Orlando.
Notes: UCF's first trip to Boulder and the second match-up between the two schools. In 2024, Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns and Travis Hunter had 9 receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown in addition to an interception on defense.
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