Colorado has already handled two early tests in 2026, but the next one looks different.
After getting by Georgia Tech and Weber State, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes have a shot at 3-0 for the second time since 2023. The catch: Northwestern brings an offense that could make life difficult for Colorado’s newly revamped defense, and the advanced numbers aren’t exactly lining up in the Buffaloes’ favor.
ESPN’s Football Power Index has Colorado at No. 12 in the Big 12 and No. 50 nationally. The model also gives the Buffaloes just a 59.8 percent chance to reach a bowl game, even though it projects them to finish with 6.1 wins. The playoff outlook is even slimmer, with Colorado at 2.1 percent for the College Football Playoffs and 1.4 percent to play for the Big 12 title.
The betting market isn’t offering much comfort either. FanDuel has Northwestern as a 3.5-point favorite for the Sept. 19 matchup, so Colorado is again staring at a game it can win, but only if it pulls off another upset. The Buffaloes were a slight underdog against Georgia Tech as well.
This will be the third meeting between Colorado and Northwestern. The last time they played, the Buffaloes blew the Wildcats out 55-7 in Boulder back in 1978. This time, though, Colorado is heading into unfamiliar territory in Evanston, Illinois, where Northwestern is playing near the lake while Ryan Field goes through tweaks.
That setting could matter. The source material notes that playing near a body of water can be distracting for visiting teams, and Sanders and his staff are likely to address that with the Buffaloes.
Weather could also get in the way. Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast, with the potential to delay the scheduled 7:30 p.m.
ET kickoff. Colorado already dealt with a brief thunderstorm delay in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, and Sanders believes his team will be ready if the game gets pushed back again.
There’s another milestone in play, too. A win would give Colorado its 20th all-time victory over a Big Ten opponent.
The Buffaloes are currently 19-18-1 against the conference, but they’ve dropped three of their last four against Big Ten teams. Their most recent win over one came in 2023, when Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders helped Colorado beat Nebraska 36-14.
A victory on Sept. 19 would also give the Buffaloes their best start since Coach Prime’s first season in 2023.
In Other News...
Hope Leyba Is Giving Colorado Another Reason To Believe
Hope Leyba has given Colorado plenty to smile about early in the season, and her latest outing only sharpened the sense that the Buffaloes have another proven finisher leading the way. The senior forward was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after delivering a hat trick in Colorados 6-0 win over Denver, a performance that reminded everyone how quickly she can change a match when she finds space in front of goal.
It was her fourth career Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor and her first this season, another sign that Leyba remains a central figure for Colorados attack. She also moved to 83 career points, which puts her fifth on the programs all-time scoring list, and gives the Buffaloes even more reason to keep watching how high her final chapter can climb. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Next Two Road Tests Will Define This Teams Ceiling
Colorados season has already shown how quickly the mood around this program can change. After the highs of the early stretch in 2023, the Buffaloes watched a losing skid drain away their bowl hopes, a reminder that fast starts only matter if they can survive the middle of the schedule. Now the conversation has shifted to 2026, where a solid opening has created a little momentum and a little expectation in equal measure.
The next two road games will say plenty about whether this group is just off to a decent start or capable of something bigger. Northwestern and Baylor offer very different kinds of tests, and handling both would go a long way toward keeping Colorado on a path that could actually lead to bowl eligibility and a more meaningful season. For a team trying to prove the early results are real, this stretch feels like the hinge point. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Still Holding Back On Julian Lewis For Now
Julian Lewis breakout against Weber State gave Colorado a fresh look at what the future could hold at quarterback, but Deion Sanders is not in any hurry to change the plan. The Buffaloes coach pointed to Lewis limited experience at this level and framed the young quarterbacks growth as a process, not a sprint, even as his recent play has given the offense a new jolt of energy.
Lewis is already starting to show the kind of leadership that matters beyond the box score, too, whether it is taking the offensive line out to eat or leaning into the daily work that comes with being the face of the position. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion has praised Lewis arm strength, while also stressing that the next step is sharpening the habits and details that separate a talented quarterback from a fully trusted one. [Read more 🡒]