Big 12 · Boulder, CO
Colorado
Buffaloes
Unranked2026: 2-3 (0-2 conf) Folsom Field
National titles
1
Last: 1990
Heisman winners
2
Last: Travis Hunter
CFP berths
0
since 2014
All-time
684-533-35
.560 win pct
Weeks ranked
12
of 104 polls since 2020
Weeks at No. 1
0
since 2020
The program
Overview
Bill McCartney led Colorado to the 1990 national title, and running back Rashaan Salaam won the 1994 Heisman. Live buffalo mascot Ralphie leads the team onto Folsom Field. Deion Sanders' arrival in 2023 brought intense national attention, and two-way star Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman in the Buffaloes' first season back in the Big 12.
Rivals
- Institution
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Nickname
- Buffaloes
- Founded
- 1876
- First season
- 1890
- Conference
- Big 12
- Head coach
- Deion Sanders (since 2023)
- Colors
- X / Twitter
- @CUBuffsFootball
Since 2020
AP poll history
2-3 overall
2026 season
- Sep 3
- Sep 12WebeWeber State21
- Sep 19
- Sep 26
- Oct 3
- Oct 17Colorado (home)
- Oct 24
#18Oklahoma State (home) - Oct 31Colorado (home)
- Nov 7
Arizona State (home) - Nov 13Colorado (home)
- Nov 21
Cincinnati (home) - Nov 28Colorado (home)
Players
Roster & stats
Rosters and player stats are tracked for teams ranked in 2026 and later.
Home field
Folsom Field
Capacity
50,183
Boulder, CO
- Opened
- 1924
- 102 seasons ago
- Surface
- Natural grass
- Roof
- Open air
- Elevation
- 5,361 ft
- Time zone
- Denver
- Avg. home crowd
- 47,625
- 95% of capacity · 32 games since 2020
- Biggest crowd since 2020
- 54,646
- vs Utah, 2024
- Zip
- 80309
Titles & awards
Trophy case
National championships1
1990
AP final No. 1 (since 1990)1990
Heisman Trophy winners2
- 2024Travis HunterWR/CB
- 1994Rashaan SalaamRB
College Football Playoff0
No playoff appearances yet.
1902–2026
Program history
Win %★ National title season
Best seasons
- 19239-0Myron Witham
- 19096-0Fred Folsom
- 19106-0Fred Folsom
- 19116-0Fred Folsom
- 198911-1Bill McCartney
- 199411-1Bill McCartney
On the sideline
Head coaches
| Coach | Tenure | Record | Pct | Best final AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deion Sanders | 2023–2026 | 16-21 | .432 | #25 |
| Mike Sanford Jr. | 2022 | 1-6 | .143 | — |
| Karl Dorrell | 2020–2022 | 8-15 | .348 | — |
| Mel Tucker | 2019 | 5-7 | .417 | — |
| Kurt Roper | 2018 | 0-1 | .000 | — |
| Mike MacIntyre | 2013–2018 | 30-44 | .405 | #17 |
| Jon Embree | 2011–2012 | 4-21 | .160 | — |
| Dan Hawkins | 2006–2010 | 19-39 | .328 | — |
| Gary Barnett | 1999–2005 | 49-38 | .563 | #9 |
| Rick Neuheisel | 1995–1998 | 33-14 | .702 | #5 |
| Bill McCartney | 1982–1994 | 93-55-5 | .624 | #1 |
| Chuck Fairbanks | 1979–1981 | 7-26 | .212 | — |
| Bill Mallory | 1974–1978 | 35-21-1 | .623 | #16 |
| Eddie Crowder | 1963–1973 | 67-49-2 | .576 | #3 |
| Bud Davis | 1962 | 2-8 | .200 | — |
| Everett Grandelius | 1959–1961 | 20-11 | .645 | #7 |
| Dallas Ward | 1948–1958 | 63-41-6 | .600 | #20 |
| Jim Yeager | 1946–1947 | 9-9-1 | .500 | — |
| Frank Potts | 1944–1945 | 11-5 | .688 | — |
| Jim Yeager | 1941–1943 | 15-8-1 | .646 | — |
| Frank Potts | 1940 | 5-3-1 | .611 | — |
| Bunny Oakes | 1935–1939 | 25-15-1 | .622 | #17 |
| William Saunders | 1932–1934 | 15-7-2 | .667 | — |
| Myron Witham | 1920–1931 | 63-26-7 | .693 | — |
| Joe Mills | 1918–1919 | 4-6-1 | .409 | — |
| Bob Evans | 1916–1917 | 7-7-1 | .500 | — |
| Fred Folsom | 1908–1915 | 40-13-1 | .750 | — |
| Frank Castleman | 1906–1907 | 7-6-4 | .529 | — |
| Willis Keinholtz | 1905 | 8-1 | .889 | — |
| David Cropp | 1903–1904 | 14-4-1 | .763 | — |
| Fred Folsom | 1902 | 5-1 | .833 | — |
8 picks · 1 first-rounders
NFL Draft since 2020
20254 picks
- #2Travis HunterCornerback · Jacksonville
- #144Shedeur SandersQuarterback · Cleveland
- #203LaJohntay WesterWide Receiver · Baltimore
- #208Jimmy Horn Jr.Wide Receiver · Carolina
20211 picks
- #197William ShermanOffensive Tackle · New England
20203 picks
- #42Laviska Shenault Jr.Wide Receiver · Jacksonville
- #103Davion TaylorOutside Linebacker · Philadelphia
- #226Arlington HambrightOffensive Tackle · Chicago