Colorado head coach Deion Sanders during the game against Arizona on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Folsom Field. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have a pivotal 2026 season ahead of them, with the full schedule of 12 opponents released on Wednesday. After an additional home game in 2025, going 3-4 at Folsom Field, they return with six home games and six away games in 2026.
Colorado stares down seven opponents that made an appearance in the AP Poll last year and eight that finished with a .500 record or better.
Non-Conference Games
For the second year in a row the Buffaloes will kick off their season against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Sep. 5, looking to avenge the 27-20 defeat last August. It was the first time the Buffs started 0-1 under Coach Prime, and launched Georgia Tech on an eight game win streak to begin its season.
The Yellow Jackets’ lost identity-pieces Haynes King at quarterback and Jamal Haynes in the backfield to the NFL Draft, but look to return to competitiveness in 2026. Likely ran by transfer QB Alberto Mendoza, little brother of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, Georgia Tech’s offense will remain dangerous and make for a difficult season-opener in Atlanta.
After the East Coast start, Colorado returns to Folsom Field for its home opener against Weber State University on Sept. 12. If Georgia Tech gets the best of the Buffs a week earlier, the return to Boulder should be a relatively straightforward win for sophomore quarterback Julian Lewis and company.
Colorado will hit the road again for its final non-conference game, matching up with Northwestern University on Sept. 19 for the first time in 48 years. The Wildcats ended with a bowl win in 2025 after going 7-5, and bolstered their offense in the transfer portal. This game could prove vital before Colorado begins its Big 12 conquest.
Big 12 Games
The Buffaloes begin a dangerous conference schedule with a showdown at Baylor University on Sept. 26, their third road game in the incipient month of September. It’s the first meeting between the two since Colorado’s magical overtime victory in 2024, with Shedeur Sanders’ Hail Mary to LaJohntay Wester late in the fourth quarter.
Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller will face Colorado for the first time in his collegiate career after transferring to Baylor in December.
The imposing Texas Tech Red Raiders then come into Boulder the following week, part of its revenge tour after disappointing in the Orange Bowl. Texas Tech has emerged as a giant in the NIL world and welcomes in the top-ranked transfer portal prospect, quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
Following a bye in week six, Colorado plays a string of teams that debut new head coaches in 2026. Most notably, the Utah Utes come to town for Family Weekend on Oct. 17. They said goodbye to head coach of 22-years Kyle Whittingham over the winter, along with a batch of players in a mass-departure to Michigan.
The Buffs then travel to the revamped Oklahoma State University program on Oct. 24, then play Kansas State University a week later in a Folsom Field Halloween. Head coach Chris Klieman retired from KSU after a largely successful seven years, and the Cowboys are responding from a historically bad 2025 with the highest roster turnover in the Big 12.
Oklahoma State snagged 54 commits in the transfer portal, including the third overall quarterback Drew Mestemaker, following his head coach from North Texas, Eric Morris.
Colorado has a major test the ensuing two weeks at Arizona State University on Nov. 7 and back home against the University of Houston on Nov. 14. The pair combined for 18 wins last year and a bowl win, and both will likely contend for the Big 12 title in 2026.
Rounding out the season, the Buffaloes fly East for just their third all-time meeting with the University of Cincinnati on Nov. 21. The Bearcats peaked at 17 in the AP Poll last year at 7-1, then went on to lose the last five games and dropped their bowl game. Cincinnati lost its quarterback to Texas Tech, and didn’t surprise in the portal, leading up for an uncertain 2026.
Lastly, Colorado ends the season in Boulder against the University of Central Florida on Nov. 28. The Buffs handled business in the first all-time meeting between the two in 2024, and look to go 2-0 as UCF is still without a determined quarterback. The Knights were notably quiet in the portal and are expected to finish among the bottom half in the Big 12.
As aforementioned, this is truly a pivotal season for Deion Sanders. Chasing the worst season of his short tenure with Colorado — with a 53-7 loss to Utah and 52-17 L to Arizona a week later — a 6-6 bowl season at the very least feels necessary. This schedule will be challenging, with only one sure-win game giving second-year QB Julian Lewis his time to demonstrate.
The 2026 season kicks off on Sept. 5.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu.
