Colorado Football 2026 Schedule: Full Breakdown and Season Outlook

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Colorado and Deion Sanders really, really, really need to get going right away after a total disaster of an 0-5 finish last year. It’ll take something amazing, though, for that to happen with one of the most difficult schedules for any Big 12 team this year.

There are just enough winnable games to push for six wins and bowl eligibility, but it’s going to be a battle from jump.

The Good, the Bad, and Who Colorado Misses in 2026

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Good

Most of the best teams on the slate are at home. Getting Utah, Houston, and Texas Tech in Boulder should be among the biggest games of the Big 12 season, at least when it comes to promotion.

The Bad

Colorado has to play Utah, Houston, and Texas Tech. And there’s a trip to Arizona State, and there are two Power Four non-conference games against Georgia Tech and Northwestern, both on the road.

What Big 12 Teams Colorado Will Miss

Arizona, BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, TCU, West Virginia. If shows how nasty Colorado’s schedule is that it’s still hard even without facing Arizona, BYU, and TCU.

Colorado’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026

Best Case: The Buffaloes start hot

Three of the first four games are on the road, and then comes Texas Tech and Utah. Coach Prime’s team beats Baylor and at least splits the two big non-conference road games, at least splits against the Red Raiders and Utes, or …

Worst Case: It’s a disastrous start

Lose to Georgia Tech, lost to Northwestern, drop the date at Baylor, and it’s a 1-5 start, leading to a discussion about the possible next Colorado head coach.