ESPN’s latest Football Power Index paints a modest picture for Colorado heading into the 2026 college football season.
The Buffaloes check in with an FPI rating of 4.5, which places them 10th in the Big 12 and No. 45 nationally. That puts Colorado behind Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Arizona, Houston, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State and Arizona State in ESPN’s conference rankings.
Texas Tech sits at No. 1 in the Big 12 at 20.0, followed by BYU at 13.1 and Utah at 8.5. Arizona is next at 7.2, Houston at 7.1, Baylor at 6.5, TCU at 6.4, Kansas State at 5.1 and Arizona State at 4.8 before Colorado rounds out the top 10.
The Red Raiders’ placement is hardly a surprise. They’re the defending Big 12 champions and enter the season as the favorite to repeat.
For Colorado, the number reflects a team trying to climb back after a rough 2025 campaign. The Buffs finished 3-9 and missed a bowl game, marking the second time in three seasons they fell short under Deion Sanders. Since taking over in 2023, Sanders has a 16-21 record.
The roster has been in constant motion during the Coach Prime era, and that trend continues. Colorado brings in 43 transfers who were not on the team last season, giving the program another major reset heading into 2026.
There have also been changes on the coaching staff, with Brennan Marion taking over at offensive coordinator and Chris Marve stepping in as defensive coordinator. That means Boulder will feature a very different look this fall.
Still, the outside expectations remain low. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Colorado’s win total at 4.5, with the under at -160 and the over at +134.
The Buffs also have the longest title odds in the Big 12 at +12000. That’s a familiar kind of doubt for Sanders’ team. Colorado faced similar skepticism in 2024 after a 4-8 season in 2023, then shocked the college football world by going 9-3 in the regular season and reaching the Alamo Bowl.
Now the question is whether they can do it again.
In Other News...
Colorado Legend Thinks Deion Finally Made The Staff Move Fans Wanted
Phillip Lindsay has been around Colorado long enough to know what a good Buffaloes ground game is supposed to look like, so his optimism about Brennan Marions arrival carries some weight. The former CU running back sees Marion as the kind of offensive coordinator who can help balance out a pass-heavy approach under Deion Sanders and give the Buffs a better chance to lean on the run more often.
Marions track record at previous stops is part of why Lindsay is intrigued, with the new play caller having helped improve rushing attacks at UNLV and Sacramento State. Colorado will get an early test of that vision in its opener against Georgia Tech, a matchup that should offer a first glimpse at whether the staff move fans had been waiting for can actually change the feel of this offense. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Opener Just Got More Intriguing After Colorado Reality Check
Phil Steeles preseason picture of Colorado offers a blunt reminder that last years 3-9 finish still hangs over the program, even with a fresh staff and renewed expectations heading into 2026. The Buffaloes landed at No. 62 in his full 1-to-138 rankings, a spot that suggests respect for the talent but not much certainty about how quickly Deion Sanders can turn confidence into results.
Sanders has made it clear he expects more from this group, and the opener at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3 should give an early read on whether the new-look offense and defense are ready to move past the inconsistency. Julian Lewis is set to be the focal point at quarterback, with Brennan Marion and Chris Marve taking over as coordinators, but the ranking underscores how much Colorado still has to prove before anyone can assume the reset is complete. [Read more 🡒]
Barrington Hargress Just Gave Buffs Fans A Reason For Hope
Barrington Hargress is already giving Colorado fans a little reason to look ahead, and it starts with the returning guards read on how much the Buffs have grown since last season ended. In an interview, Hargress pointed to noticeable offseason progress from several players on the 2025 roster, saying the group has sharpened its offensive efficiency, added versatility and tightened up on defense as it works toward a better 2026.
Josiah Sanders, Ian Inman and Jalin Holland were all part of that upbeat assessment, and the broader message was clear: Colorado believes its returning core has spent the offseason attacking the areas that held it back. For a team trying to turn hard work into real results, those internal gains matter, especially with Hargress among the veterans expected to help steer the offense when the new season arrives. [Read more 🡒]