ESPN FPI gives Colorado football national title chance in 2026

Most people don't think the Colorado Buffaloes will win a national championship in the next few seasons, let alone in 2026. But according to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Buffs are among a few teams in the Big 12 Conference with a chance to hoist the trophy come January.

ESPN's FPI gives Colorado a 0.1% chance of winning the title, making it one of nine Big 12 teams given a chance. CU joins Arizona, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Houston and TCU as the six teams with a 0.1% chance. Texas Tech leads the way with a 3.7% chance to win the title, followed by BYU at 0.7%.

While giving Colorado any chance to win the title this year is a crazy proposition, there might be a good explanation for it. Colorado, with Deion Sanders at the helm and a solid coaching staff, not to mention a roster filled with highly productive players, does have a ceiling that other teams do not have. Now the biggest question is whether CU can reach that ceiling or anything close to it.

In two of the three previous seasons under Sanders, expectations have not been met, and the program failed to even reach its relatively low 5- to 6-win floor. As we enter 2026, the growth potential is clear, and FPI serves as a strong indicator of this optimism.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: ESPN FPI gives Colorado football national title chance in 2026