Three games that could define Colorado football's 2026 season

Colorado football has little margin for error in 2026. After a frustrating 3-9 season, Deion Sanders and his staff need this year to show real progress. Three games stand out as likely to define the season.

Here is a breakdown of those games and what they might mean for Colorado's 2026 season.

Baylor Bears

The first one comes on Sept. 26 at Baylor, Colorado's first Big 12 game of the year. It is also the start of a stretch that includes three road games in the first four weeks, with Utah and Texas Tech waiting immediately after. A win in Waco would give redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis and new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion early confidence and help set the tone for the rest of the season.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The next must-win spot is Oct. 24 at Oklahoma State. That game comes right after Colorado's two-game run against Texas Tech and Utah, which could easily shape the entire back half of the schedule. If the Buffs enter Stillwater needing a response, they will likely need to beat the Cowboys to keep bowl hopes realistic. New defensive coordinator Chris Marve will be under the microscope in a game that could turn into a key test against Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys' passing game.

UCF Knights

The final game that looms large is Nov. 28 against UCF. The Knights finished near the bottom of the Big 12 last season, just like Colorado, and this one could decide whether the Buffs reach bowl eligibility. With a brutal slate overall, Colorado needs to cash in on games like this if they want to move up the standings and show the program is taking a step forward.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football 2026 schedule three must-win games