Football

Colorado Buffaloes Climb to No. 10 in National Rankings Ahead of 2026 Season

Projected 6-6 record and bowl berth highlight Deion Sanders' second year, as ESPN’s FPI places the team above several Power Five rivals.

Rankings Spark Renewed Hope

The Colorado Buffaloes have risen to No. 10 in the Big 12 and No. 45 nationally according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, marking a notable jump from last year’s opening tally of No. 11.

Analysts project a 6‑0‑1 record for the Buffaloes, translating to a 6.0‑6.1 win total that would push them past the six‑win threshold and secure a postseason berth for the second time in Coach Deion Sanders’ four‑year tenure.

The optimism stems from a revamped coaching staff, with two new coordinators arriving alongside a wave of more than 40 transfers that have reshaped the roster and injected fresh talent.

Fans can look forward to a slate that includes winnable contests against Georgia Tech, Weber State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati and UCF, while the schedule also features tough road tests versus Texas Tech, Utah, Houston, Arizona State, Kansas State and Baylor.

If the predictions hold, the team will notch victories over rivals that were out of reach a season ago, reinforcing the narrative of rapid progress under Sanders’ leadership.

The rankings not only reflect on‑field potential but also signal growing national attention for a program that has become a focal point of discussion across college football circles.

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