Ranking Colorado Football's 2026 Opponents from Easiest to Hardest

The Colorado Buffaloes have a difficult 2026 schedule. Here is each game for Coach Deion Sanders' team ranked from easiest to hardest.

Oct 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the sidelines during the first half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The Colorado Buffaloes 2026 schedule has been revealed. Here is each game ranked on the schedule by its difficulty from easiest to hardest.

Oct 11, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

1. Sept. 12 vs. Weber State Wildcats

Weber State is the lone FCS team on Colorado’s schedule. This will be the season’s home opener at Folsom Field. It’s pretty clear this should be the easiest game for Colorado in 2026.

2. Nov. 28 vs. UCF Knights

Colorado’s easiest conference game on paper is senior night against UCF. The Knights are coming off a 5-7 2025 season. They last played against each other in 2024, with Colorado winning on the road.

3. Oct. 24 at Oklahoma State Cowboys

OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg presents a jersey to Eric Morris. Oklahoma State University (OSU) introduces the new head football coach, Eric Morris, during a rally , Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. | DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This is a tricky game to rank but it will go No. 3. It’s a road game, but the Cowboys are coming off a 1-11 season. They did not win a single Big 12 conference game. This offseason, they hired former North Texas Mean Green coach Eric Morris to be their coach and he has brought in the most incoming transfers in the country from the portal.

4. Oct. 31 vs. Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State went into 2025 with high expectations but fell short, just going 6-6. This Halloween matchup in Boulder won’t be easy for the Wildcats.

5. Sept. 26 at Baylor Bears

Baylor went 5-7 in 2025 and will be looking to bounce back in this September home game against “Coach Prime” and the Buffs.

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6. Sept. 19 at Northwestern Wildcats

Nov 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The Northwestern Wildcats celebrate after winning the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The Wildcats went 7-6 in 2025 and will welcome in the Buffaloes for this Big Ten/Big 12 non-conference matchup.

7. Nov. 21 at Cincinnati Bearcats

The Bearcats went 7-6 last season. They got off to a great 7-1 start, but fell off towards the end of the season. They had a big loss in the transfer portal, losing quarterback Brendan Sorby to Texas Tech.

8. Nov. 14 vs. Houston Cougars

The schedule really starts to get difficult now. Houston went 10-3 in 2025 and beat Colorado handily during the season. Now the Buffs have the chance to return the favor, this time in Boulder.

9. Sept. 9 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Dec 27, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key reacts against the BYU Cougars during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The 2026 season will kick off with a road test for Colorado against Georgia Tech, just like a year ago. Only this time, it will be on the road. The Yellow Jackets beat Colorado 27-20 in 2025.

10. Oct. 17 vs. Utah Utes

Utah has consistently been one of the best teams in the Big 12 and went 11-2 in 2025. However they have a new coach in Morgan Scalley, who took over for long time Utes coach Kyle Whittingham after Whittingham left for the Michigan coaching job.

11. Nov. 7 at Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State went 8-5 last season but they should bounce back in 2026 under coach Kenny Dillingham. This will be the most difficult road game for the Buffs.

12. Oct. 3 vs. Texas Tech Ted Raiders

Texas Tech won 12 games in 2025 and won the Big 12. They also have the No. 1 ranked incoming transfer class for 2026 in the Big 12 per Rivals. Enough said.