ESPN’s Football Power Index projects the Colorado Buffaloes to finish the 2026 Big 12 season with a 6‑6 record, a stark contrast to their 3‑9 showing just two years earlier.
A Grueling Opening Stretch
The schedule they face is anything but forgiving, opening with a gauntlet that includes Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Baylor and Texas Tech in the first handful of weeks.
While the early slate is designed to test the team’s mettle, the model also flags a handful of winnable contests, notably a home opener against Weber State and later road trips to Kansas State, Houston and UCF.
Mid‑Season Tests
The challenges begin in earnest with a road test at Northwestern’s Ryan Field, followed by a trip to Waco to confront the Baylor Bears, a program that has recently enjoyed championship success.
Texas Tech’s Red Raiders arrive in Week 4, bringing a high‑octane offense that will probe Colorado’s defensive adjustments, while a bye week offers a brief respite before the Utah Utes visit.
Mid‑season, the Buffaloes meet Kansas State, now led by first‑year head coach Collin Klein, adding a narrative layer to the matchup.
Later in the year, games against Arizona State, Houston and the Cincinnati Bearcats will determine whether the team can convert its talent advantage into actual wins, especially as the schedule softens in the final stretch.
If the Buffaloes can string together victories in those manageable contests, a winning record and a postseason berth become realistic goals, a marked improvement over the previous campaign.