Colorado basketball now has the full roadmap for the 2026-27 season.
On Thursday, the Buffaloes’ women’s program under JR Payne announced its nonconference schedule, while the Big 12 released conference dates for both CU teams. That gives both the men and women their league slates, with tipoff times and television details still to come.
For the women, the season starts at home Nov. 4 against Morgan State, the first game of Payne’s 11th year in charge. Fresno State visits on Nov. 7, then Colorado heads to San Diego State on Nov. 11 for its first road trip.
The nonconference slate gives CU six home dates overall. Youngstown State comes to Boulder on Nov. 14, followed later by Wyoming on Dec.
6, San Francisco on Dec. 12 and Utah State on Dec. 15.
In between those home stretches, the Buffs will face a demanding run at the Cancun Challenge beginning Nov. 26, when they play Georgia, Oregon and Maryland Eastern Shore on three straight days. Colorado’s other true road games before Big 12 play are at New Mexico on Nov. 18 and at Denver on Dec.
- The women also have an exhibition against Adams State on Oct.
Big 12 play begins for CU’s women at Texas Tech on Dec. 20.
From there, the Buffs come home for back-to-back games against Arizona State on Dec. 30 and Baylor on Jan. 2.
The men already knew their nonconference and league opponents, but Thursday filled in one key blank: the Big 12 opener. Tad Boyle’s team starts conference play at Oklahoma State on Jan.
- After that road trip, the Buffs return to Boulder for home games against Iowa State on Jan. 5 and West Virginia on Jan.
Colorado will not host Arizona or Kansas this season, but the home schedule still carries some weight. The Buffs get Houston on Jan. 16 and Texas Tech on Feb. 2 at the CU Events Center.
Boyle’s 17th season opens Nov. 2 at home against Abilene Christian.
Both CU teams are set to begin preseason practice Wednesday.
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For Sanders, the issue has never been just cosmetic. The prosthetics are intended to help with balance and gait while he is standing on the sideline, part of an ongoing effort to manage the pain and limitations that have followed his foot amputation. He has been open about that journey, and this latest milestone underscores how much of his recovery still happens in the details most people never see. [Read more 🡒]
