Colorado football record predictions for the 2026 season

Can the Colorado Buffaloes make a bowl game in 2026? The Buffs have made just three bowl games in the past decade, including one in Deion Sanders’ three seasons as head coach. Becoming a consistent bowl team, one that can be in the Big 12 title conversation year in and year out, should be the goal. Currently, the Buffs are an afterthought in the conference, with most predicting another near-last-place finish.

The team underwent a major overhaul this offseason, with two new coordinators and 40-plus transfers, making it difficult to predict a final record. Our post-spring prediction was a 6-6 record, a significant improvement over Colorado’s 3-9 record last season.

Does our staff at Buffaloes Wire see it the same after fall camp and a few days from Colorado’s season opener against Georgia Tech? Here are our regular-season record predictions for the upcoming season.

Colorado finishes the season with a 6-6 record, barely qualifying them for a bowl game. They have three games against teams that are in the first US LBM Coaches Poll: No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 21 Utah and No. 24 Houston. While those games are all at home, I do not believe that will help the Buffaloes. Their season opener against Georgia Tech will also be tough. However, they also have numerous winnable games, starting with their Week 2 game against Weber State. Some of their conference matchups, such as against Baylor and Cincinnati, are also games Colorado can win this season. I do not believe the Buffaloes will be as bad as last season, but I also do not believe they will qualify for the conference championship game.

Truthfully, I only see four nearly guaranteed wins on Colorado’s schedule (Weber State, K-State, Cincinnati and UCF). I would not blame anyone if they thought only one game is a guaranteed win; simply put, the schedule is not too forgiving. How the Buffaloes start the year will tell me a lot, especially away games at Georgia Tech, Northwestern and Baylor. Win two of those games, and a bowl game should be a given. Falter out of the gate, and you could be starting at a 4-win year. I see a more talented and better-prepared CU team than a year ago, meaning six wins should be doable.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football record predictions for the 2026 season