:Colorado Buffaloes football

{{Short description|Football team of University of Colorado Boulder}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox NCAA football school

| TeamName = Colorado Buffaloes football

| CurrentSeason = 2025 Colorado Buffaloes football team

| FirstYear = 1890; {{Years or months ago|1890}}

| Image = Colorado Buffaloes wordmark black.svg

| ImageSize = 200

| AthleticDirector = Rick George

| HeadCoach = Deion Sanders

| HeadCoachYear = 3rd

| HCWins = 13

| HCLosses = 12

| Stadium = Folsom Field

| StadiumBuilt = 1924

| StadCapacity = 50,183

| StadSurface = Natural Grass

| Location = Boulder, Colorado

| NCAAdivision = I FBS

| Conference = Big 12

| PastAffiliations = Independent (1890–1892, 1905)
CFA (1893–1904, 1906–1908)
RMAC (1909–1937)
Skyline (1938–1947)
Big Eight (1948–1995)
Big 12 (1996–2010)
Pac-12 (2011–2023)

| ATWins = 728

| ATLosses = 545

| ATTies = 36

| BowlWins = 12

| BowlLosses = 17

| BowlTies = 0

| NatlTitles = 1 (1990)

| ConfTitles = 26

| DivTitles = 5 (4 Big 12 North)
(1 Pac-12 South)

| Heismans = Rashaan Salaam – 1994
Travis Hunter – 2024

| AllAmericans = 32 (6 unanimous)

| uniform = 250px

| FightSong = Fight CU

| MascotDisplay = Ralphie

| MarchingBand = Golden Buffalo Marching Band

| PagFreeLabel = Outfitter

| PagFreeValue = Nike

| Rivalries = Colorado State (rivalry)
Kansas State (rivalry)
Nebraska (rivalry)
Utah (rivalry)

| WebsiteName = cubuffs.com/football

| WebsiteURL = https://cubuffs.com/sports/football

}}

The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team was a charter member of the Big 12 before leaving to join the Pac-12 Conference after the 2010 season. After 13 seasons in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes returned to the Big 12 in 2024. Before joining the Big 12, they were members of the Big Eight Conference. The CU football team has played at Folsom Field since 1924.{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=117805 |title=Folsom Field Home |publisher=CUBuffs.com |access-date=2007-03-06 |archive-date=2010-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020111647/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=117805 |url-status=dead }} The Buffs all-time record is 716–520–36 (.577 winning percentage) as of the 2022 season. Colorado won the 1990 National Championship. The football program is 27th on the all-time win list and 40th in all-time winning percentage.

History

{{See also|List of Colorado Buffaloes football seasons}}

File:Colorado football team 1890.jpg

{{Expand section|date=December 2017}}

Beginning in 1890, the Buffaloes have appeared in 29 bowl games (36th all-time), and won 27 conference championships, 5 division championships and an AP national championship in 1990.

Folsom Field was built in 1924, and since then, Colorado has a 308–169–14 record at home through the 2016 season. The road game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 24, 2006, was Colorado's 1,100th football game. The game on September 12, 2015, against Massachusetts was the school's 1,200th football game.

Conference affiliations

Championships

=National championships=

Colorado won one national championship in football for 1990.{{cite book | url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf | title=2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records | publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association | date=August 2018 | access-date=December 12, 2018}}{{rp|120}}{{cite web| url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/2005/2/22/110489.aspx | title=1990 National Champions | publisher=CUBuffs.com | access-date=December 13, 2018}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Season|Coach|Selectors|Record|Bowl|Result|Final AP|Final Coaches}}
1990{{nowrap|Bill McCartney}}AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, USA/CNN11–1–1Orange{{nowrap|W 10–9}}No. 1No. 2

;1990 season

{{Main|1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team}}

Colorado won the national championship in 1990 under the direction of head coach Bill McCartney, who helmed the team from 1982 to 1994. While the Georgia Tech won the United Press International Coaches Poll, Colorado won the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America and other polls. Colorado played the most difficult schedule in the country, beat more ranked teams and conference champions, and had a more talented roster.{{cite web |url=http://www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1990.htm |title=1990 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings |access-date=2009-01-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129201503/http://jhowell.net/cf/cf1990.htm |archive-date=2009-01-29 }} Colorado capped the season with a 10–9 win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, a rematch of the 1989 season Orange Bowl Game which Notre Dame won 21–6. Colorado's tie came against Tennessee, who was ranked No. 8, the first week of the season when Colorado was ranked No. 5. The second week gave the Buffs a scare, scoring with 12 seconds left in the game on a 4th and Goal attempt. The next week gave Colorado its only loss of the season, losing 23–22 to Illinois and dropping Colorado to No. 20 in the polls. Colorado then went on to beat teams ranked (at the time) No. 22 Texas, No. 12 Washington, No. 22 Oklahoma, and No. 3 Nebraska. They ended the season 7–0 in the Big Eight Conference for the second straight season. They then capped the season with a win over Notre Dame who were number 1 until a loss in their second to last game of the regular season.{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.football.college/browse_thread/thread/b96e8d7451d29ead/8ab16b05d26253ec?lnk=st&q=The+McMNC+for+1990#8ab16b05d26253ec |title=The McMNC for 1990: Georgia Institute of Technology – rec.sport.football.college | Google Groups |access-date=2013-04-22}}

=Conference championships=

File:CUvsTexas-Big12Champ2005.jpg

Colorado has won 26 conference championships in over a century of college play, spanning through five conferences.

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Year|Conference|Coach|Overall record|Conference record}}
1894rowspan=7|Colorado Football AssociationHarry Heller8–15–0
1895rowspan=5|Fred Folsom5–13–0
18965–02–0
18977–12–0
19015–1–12–0
19025–14–0
1903Dave Cropp8–24–0
1909rowspan=9|Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferencerowspan=4|Fred Folsom6–03–0
19106–03–0
19116–04–0
19135–1–13–0–1
1923rowspan=2|Myron E. Witham9–07–0
19248–1–15–0–1
1934Bill Saunders6–1–26–1
1935rowspan=3|Bunny Oakes5–45–1
19378–17–0
1939rowspan=4|Mountain States Conference5–35–1
1942rowspan=2|James J. Yeager7–25–1
19435–22–0
1944Frank Potts6–22–0
1961rowspan=5|Big Eight ConferenceSonny Grandelius9–27–0
1976Bill Mallory8–45–2
1989rowspan=3|Bill McCartney11–17–0
199011–1–17–0
19918–3–16–0–1
2001Big 12 ConferenceGary Barnett10–37–1

† Co-champions

=Division championships=

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Year|Division|Coach|Opponent|CG result}}
2001rowspan=4|Big 12 Northrowspan=4|Gary BarnettTexasW 39–37
2002OklahomaL 7–29
2004OklahomaL 3–42
2005TexasL 3–70
2016Pac-12 SouthMike MacIntyreWashingtonL 10–41

† Co-champions

Head coaches

{{Main|List of Colorado Buffaloes head football coaches}}

The Buffaloes have played in 1,109 games during their 125 seasons, through 2014. In those seasons, 11 coaches have led Colorado to postseason bowl games: Bunny Oakes, Dallas Ward, Marcel M. Mazur, Bud Davis, Eddie Crowder, Bill Mallory, Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, Gary Barnett, Dan Hawkins, Mike MacIntyre and Karl Dorrell.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-29|title=CU Buffs become bowl eligible with win over San Diego State|url=https://www.buffzone.com/2020/11/28/cu-buffs-become-bowl-eligible-with-win-over-san-diego-state|access-date=2020-12-03|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}} Ten coaches have won conference championships with the Buffaloes: Fred Folsom, Myron Witham, William Saunders, Oakes, Jim Yeager, Sonny Grandelius, Mallory, McCartney and Barnett. The Buffaloes won the national championship in 1990, and have won a total of 28 conference championships.

McCartney is the all-time leader in games coached with 153, total wins with 93, and conference wins with 58.{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/2014_Info_Guide/130_all_time_record.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-05-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521060047/http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/2014_Info_Guide/130_all_time_record.pdf |archive-date=2015-05-21 }} {{cite web | url=http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/2014_Info_Guide/130_all_time_record.pdf | title=All-Time Record | publisher=CUBuffs.com | date=2014-06-28 | access-date=2015-05-19 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521060047/http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/football/2014_Info_Guide/130_all_time_record.pdf | archive-date=2015-05-21 }} Folsom had the longest tenure as head coach, remaining in the position for 15 seasons. Harry Heller and Willis Keinholtz are tied for the highest overall winning percentage. Each served a single season and won eight of his nine games for a winning percentage of .889. Of coaches who served more than one season, Folsom leads with a .765 winning percentage. Davis, in terms of overall winning percentage, is the worst coach the Buffaloes have had with a .200 winning percentage. No Colorado coach has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, although McCartney was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame in 1996.

Mike MacIntyre had brief success with the program. Hired on Dec. 10, 2012,{{cite web | url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205823352&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 | title=MacIntyre Named Head Football Coach At Colorado | publisher=CUBuffs.com | date=2012-12-10 | access-date=2015-05-19 }} MacIntyre compiled a 30–44 record over five-plus seasons at Colorado. In 2016, MacIntyre lead Colorado to a 10–2 regular season and a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. It was the first winning season for Colorado since 2005, ending a 10-year streak of finishing below .500. 2016 was also the best season for the Buffaloes since 2001. As well, it marked their first time playing in a conference championship game since the 2005 Big 12 Championship Game. The team also went 8–2 in the Pac-12 after having five conference wins in the previous five seasons. Mike MacIntyre was named the Walter Camp 2016 Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation, the second Colorado football coach to earn the honor (Bill McCartney in 1989). MacIntyre was also awarded the 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year, American Football Coaches Association's coach of the year and comeback coach of the year awards, the Associated Press coach of the year, and the Eddie Robinson coach of the year by the Football Writers Association of America. In 2018, the Buffaloes started out the season 5–0 with wins against rivals Colorado State, Nebraska, Arizona State, and UCLA - however, MacIntyre was fired as the head coach on November 18, 2018, after a six-game losing streak.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-18|title=Colorado fires football coach Mike MacIntyre after six-game losing streak|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/18/mike-macintyre-fired-cu-football-coach/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}}

Mike Sanford was named interim Head Coach after Karl Dorrell was fired during the 2022 season, Sanford was previously the Buffaloes Offensive Coordinator for the start of the 2022 campaign.{{Cite web |title=Dorrell Dismissed As Head Football Coach at Colorado |url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/10/2/dorrell-dismissed-as-head-football-coach-at-colorado.aspx |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=University of Colorado Athletics |language=en}} On December 3, Colorado announced Deion Sanders as Head Football Coach.{{Cite web|title=Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders Named Head Football Coach at Colorado|url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2022/12/3/deion-coach-prime-sanders-named-head-football-coach-at-colorado.aspx|access-date=2022-12-03|website=CUBuffs.com|language=en-US}}

Venues

File:Folsom Field North Endzone.jpg]]

Rivalries

=Nebraska=

{{Main|Colorado–Nebraska football rivalry}}

A traditional college football rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers restarted in the 1980s (many historical documents show the importance of this game going back to 1898) when Bill McCartney declared the conference opponent to be their rival. His theory was since Nebraska was such a powerhouse team, if Colorado was able to beat them then they would be a good team. Colorado began to repeatedly threaten Nebraska in the late 1980s, following their win over the Huskers in 1986, and then surpassed the Huskers for the Big 8 crown in 1989.

In 1990, Colorado beat Nebraska 27–12 in Lincoln for the first time since 1967, en route to their first national title. From 1996 to 2000, the series was extremely competitive, with the margin of victory by NU in those five years being only 15 points combined. The rivalry was further buoyed by the introduction of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, which moved Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the southern division with the four new schools from Texas, formerly in the Southwest Conference. Nebraska had traditionally finished the Big 8 conference schedule with a rivalry game with Oklahoma, but the two were now in different divisions, which meant they met every other year in the regular season. Colorado replaced Oklahoma as Nebraska's final conference game of the regular season, which further intensified the rivalry. In 2001 No. 1 Nebraska came to Folsom Field undefeated and left at the short end of a nationally televised 62–36 blowout. Both teams departed the Big 12 in 2011, as NU headed east to join the Big Ten and the future of the rivalry was in doubt. On February 7, 2013, Colorado and Nebraska agreed to renew the rivalry.{{cite web| title = Colorado Buffaloes renew football rivalry with Nebraska Cornhuskers | date = 7 February 2013 | publisher = denverpost.com | url = http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_22541994/colorado-buffaloes-football-rivalry-nebraska-cornhuskers}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fbschedules.com/2013/02/colorado-nebraska-schedule-4-game-football-series/|title=Colorado and Nebraska schedule 4-Game Football Series|work=FBSchedules.com|date=7 February 2013 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8926735/nebraska-cornhuskers-colorado-buffaloes-renew-rivalry-2018|title=Nebraska Cornhuskers, Colorado Buffaloes to renew rivalry in 2018|date=7 February 2013 |publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=206312564|title=Colorado & Nebraska To Renew Football Rivalry|work=CUBuffs.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=206312560|title=Huskers and Colorado Agree to Four-Game Series|work=Huskers.com}}{{cite web|url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/07/agreement-reached-on-resuming-colorado-nebraska-rivalry/|title=Agreement reached on resuming Colorado-Nebraska rivalry|work=nbcsports.com|date=7 February 2013 }} Colorado traveled to Lincoln in 2018 and won 33–28 (winning against Nebraska for the first time since 2007 and the first time in Lincoln since 2004). On September 7, 2019, Colorado mounted an improbable comeback after being down 17–0 at half, to win the game in overtime, 34–31. After a 3-year break, Nebraska lost 36–14 to Colorado in Boulder in 2023, but then won against Colorado 28-10 in 2024. Nebraska leads the series 49–21–2 through the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/colorado/vs/nebraska|title=Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

=Colorado State=

{{Main|Rocky Mountain Showdown}}

Colorado's in-state rival is the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference, located north of Boulder in Fort Collins. The two schools are separated by 45 miles (72 km) and both consider it important and noteworthy to beat the other for bragging rights for the next year. The two football teams annually compete in the Rocky Mountain Showdown for the Centennial Cup, played in Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder. The trophy takes its name from the state of Colorado's nickname of "The Centennial State". The Buffaloes lead the series 67–22–2 through the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/colorado/vs/colorado-state|title=Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Colorado State Rams football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

=Utah=

File:Utah vs. Colorado 1916.jpg

{{Main|Rumble in the Rockies}}

The rivalry with Utah ran from 1903 to 1962, in which Utah and Colorado played each other nearly every year; through 1962 they had met 57 times.{{cite web| url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents_records.php?teamid=3345| title=Colorado vs Utah| publisher=College Football Data Warehouse| access-date=2010-06-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040520120141/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents_records.php?teamid=3345| archive-date=2004-05-20}} At the time, it was the second-most played rivalry for both teams (Utah had played Utah State 62 times;{{cite web| url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/utah/opponents_records.php?teamid=3351| title=Utah vs Utah St.| publisher=College Football Data Warehouse| access-date=2010-06-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525222258/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/utah/opponents_records.php?teamid=3351| archive-date=2011-05-25}} Colorado had played Colorado State 61 times{{cite web| url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents_records.php?teamid=768| title=Colorado vs Colorado St.| publisher=College Football Data Warehouse| access-date=2010-06-19| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610103533/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents_records.php?teamid=768| archive-date=2010-06-10}}). The rivalry was dormant until 2011, when both teams joined the Pac-12, renewing the rivalry on an annual basis. The Colorado–Utah rivalry remains the fifth-most played rivalry in Utah's history, and eighth-most in Colorado's history.{{cite web|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/utah/opponents.php|title=Utah Opponents|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=2010-06-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914171753/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mountainwest/utah/opponents.php|archive-date=2010-09-14}}{{cite web|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents.php|title=Colorado Opponents|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=2010-06-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216134510/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/colorado/opponents.php|archive-date=2010-02-16}} Utah leads the series 34-32-3 through the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/colorado/vs/utah|title=Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

Bowl games

{{Main|List of Colorado Buffaloes bowl games}}

Colorado has participated in 31 bowl games, with a record of {{winpct|12|19|record=y}}.

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Season|Coach|Bowl|Opponent|Result|Attendance|Network}}
1937Bunny OakesCottonRiceL 14–2835,000
1956Dallas WardOrangeClemsonW 27–2172,552CBS
"

|1961

Sonny GrandeliusOrangeLSUL 7–2562,391ABC
1967rowspan="5" |Eddie CrowderBluebonnetMiami (FL)W 31–2130,156ABC
1969LibertyAlabamaW 47–3350,144ABC
1970LibertyTulaneL 3–1744,500ABC
1971Astro-BluebonnetHoustonW 29–1754,720ABC
1972GatorAuburnL 3–2471,114ABC
1975rowspan="2" | Bill MalloryAstro-BluebonnetTexasL 21–3852,728ABC
1976OrangeOhio StateL 10–2765,537NBC
1985rowspan="9" |Bill McCartneyFreedomWashingtonL 17–2030,961Lorimar
1986BluebonnetBaylorL 9–2140,470Raycom
1988FreedomBrigham YoungL 17–2035,941Raycom
1989OrangeNotre DameL 6–2181,191NBC
1990OrangeNotre DameW 10–977,062NBC
1991BlockbusterAlabamaL 25–3052,644CBS
1992FiestaSyracuseL 22–2670,224NBC
1993AlohaFresno StateW 41–3044,009ABC
1994FiestaNotre DameW 41–2473,968NBC
1995rowspan="3" |Rick NeuheiselCottonOregonW 38–658,214CBS
1996HolidayWashingtonW 33–2154,749ESPN
1998AlohaOregonW 51–4334,803ABC
1999rowspan="4" |Gary BarnettInsight.comBoston CollegeW 62–2835,762ESPN
2001FiestaOregonL 16–3874,118ABC
2002AlamoWisconsinL 28–31OT50,690ESPN
2004HoustonUTEPW 33–2827,235ESPN
2005Mike HankwitzChamps SportsClemsonL 10–1931,470ESPN
2007Dan HawkinsIndependenceAlabamaL 24–3047,043ESPN
2016Mike MacIntyreAlamoOklahoma StateL 8–3859,815ESPN
2020Karl DorrellAlamoTexasL 23–5510,822ESPN
2024Deion SandersAlamoBYUL 14–3664,261ABC

Notable players

File:Cliff Branch (2011).jpg, Hall of Fame WR]]

{{See also|Colorado Buffaloes football statistical leaders}}

{{List missing criteria|date=July 2023}}

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

{{Div col end}}

Awards

File:Travis Hunter 2024 (cropped).jpg, 2024 Heisman Trophy winner]]

File:Justice White Official.jpg (future U.S. Supreme Court Justice) finished 2nd in Heisman voting in 1937]]

File:Eric Bieniemy OCT2021 (cropped).jpg (1987–1990), the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,940), touchdowns (42), and all-purpose yards (4,351)]]

= Heisman Trophy{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} =

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Year|Name|Position|Rank in
Heisman voting|Points}}
1937Byron WhiteHB2nd264
1961Joe RomigOG/LB6th279
1969Bobby AndersonTB11th100
1971Charlie DavisTB16th28
1989Darian HaganQB5th242
rowspan="3" |1990Eric BieniemyTB3rd798
Darian HaganQB17th17
Mike PritchardWR50th2
1991Darian HaganQB20th12
1992Ronnie BlackmonCB30th4
rowspan="2" |1993Charles JohnsonWR15th24
Michael WestbrookWR61st1
rowspan="2" |1994Rashaan SalaamTB1st743
Kordell StewartQB13th16
2002Chris BrownTB8th48
rowspan=2 | 2024Travis HunterCB/WR1st2,231
Shedeur SandersQB8th47

=Other award winners=

==Players==

{{col-begin|width=66%}}

{{col-2}}

  • Walter Camp Award{{cite web |url= http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |title= NCAA Football Award Winners |year= 2009 |work= NCAA Football Records |publisher= NCAA |page= 19 |access-date= 2010-11-13 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100215145202/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |archive-date= 2010-02-15 }}

:Rashaan Salaam1994

:Travis Hunter2024{{cite press release |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/12/winners-revealed-for-espns-34th-annual-the-home-depot-college-football-awards/ |title=Winners Revealed for ESPN's 34th Annual The Home Depot College Football Awards |publisher=ESPN |date=December 12, 2024 |access-date=February 6, 2025}}

  • Dick Butkus Award{{cite web |url= http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |title= NCAA Football Award Winners |year= 2009 |work= NCAA Football Records |publisher= NCAA |page= 20 |access-date= 2010-11-13 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100215145202/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |archive-date= 2010-02-15 }}

:Alfred Williams1990

:Matt Russell1996

:Rashaan Salaam1994

:Travis Hunter2024

:Deon Figures1992

:Chris Hudson1994

  • John Mackey Award{{cite web |url= http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |title= NCAA Football Award Winners |year= 2009 |work= NCAA Football Records |publisher= NCAA |page= 21 |access-date= 2010-11-13 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100215145202/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |archive-date= 2010-02-15 }}

:Daniel Graham2001

{{col-2}}

:Shedeur Sanders2024{{cite press release |url=https://goldenarmfoundation.com/2024/11/shedeur-sanders-wins-the-2024-johnny-unitas-golden-arm-award-presented-by-a-o-smith/ |title=Shedeur Sanders wins the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® Presented by A. O. Smith |publisher=Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation |date=November 28, 2024 |access-date=November 29, 2024}}

:Travis Hunter2024{{cite press release |url=https://lottimpacttrophy.org/lott-trophy/colorados-travis-hunter-has-been-named-winner-of-the-lott-impact-trophy-presented-by-allied-universal/ |title=Colorado's Travis Hunter has been named winner of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal |publisher=The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation |date=December 9, 2024 |access-date=December 11, 2024}}

:Mark Mariscal2002

:Travis Hunter - 2023, 2024{{cite press release |url=https://www.louisvillesports.org/news/colorados-travis-hunter-named-2024-paul-hornung-award-winner/ |title=Colorado's Travis Hunter Named 2024 Paul Hornung Award Winner |publisher=Louisville Sports Commission |date=December 11, 2024 |access-date=December 11, 2024}}

:Jim Hansen1992{{efn|group=Playertrophies|In 1992, this award was known as the Draddy Trophy.}}

:Jim Hansen1992{{cite press release |url=https://academicallamerica.com/documents/2016/10/13//1992%20FOOTBALL.pdf?id=1989 |title=1992 CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Team, University Division |publisher=College Sports Information Directors of America |access-date=February 6, 2025}}

:Travis Hunter2024{{cite press release |url=https://academicallamerica.com/news/2025/1/27/2024-academic-all-america-football-teams-announced-for-all-ncaa-and-naia-divisions.aspx |title=2024 Academic All-America Football Teams announced for all NCAA and NAIA divisions |publisher=College Sports Communicators |date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025}}

{{col-end}}

{{notelist|group=Playertrophies}}

==Coach==

=College Football Hall of Fame=

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|Name|Induction|Ref}}
Byron White1952{{College Football HoF|id=1549|name=Byron White}}
Joe Romig1984{{College Football HoF|id=1882|name=Joe Romig}}
Dick Anderson1993{{College Football HoF|id=1881|name=Dick Anderson}}
Bobby Anderson2006{{cite web|url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=319160 |title=Throwin' You A Bohn – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics |publisher=CUBuffs.com |access-date=2017-06-19}}
Alfred Williams2010{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204951748&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616050855/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3843&SPID=255&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204951748 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |title=Alfred Williams Elected To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics |publisher=CUBuffs.com |access-date=2017-06-19 }}
John Wooten2012{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205427637&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 |title=John Wooten Named To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics |publisher=CUBuffs.com |access-date=2017-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053117/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205427637&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}
Bill McCartney2013{{cite web |url=http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=207574760&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521060306/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=207574760&SPID=255&SPSID=3843 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2015 |title=Bill McCartney To Enter College Football Hall of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics |publisher=CUBuffs.com |access-date=2017-06-19 }}
Herb Orvis2016{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/01/08/herb-orvis-former-cu-buffs-pass-rusher-named-to-college-football-hall-of-fame/|title=Herb Orvis, former CU Buffs pass rusher, named to College Football Hall of Fame|website=Denverpost.com|publisher=MediaNews Group, Inc.|date=January 8, 2016|access-date=August 15, 2020}}
Rashaan Salaam2022

=Pro Football Hall of Fame=

Colorado has one inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

=All-Americans=

File:Daniel Graham 2010.JPG]]

File:Mason crosby 2010.jpg]]

File:Nate Solder.JPG]]

The following is a list of Consensus All-Americans from CU as listed{{when|date=April 2017}} in NCAA record books.{{cite web |url= http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |title= NCAA Football Award Winners |year= 2009 |work= NCAA Football Records |publisher= NCAA |page= 13 |access-date= 2010-11-13 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100215145202/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009Awards.pdf |archive-date= 2010-02-15 }}

=Retired numbers=

{{See also|List of NCAA football retired numbers}}

The following players have been honored by having their uniform numbers designated as retired numbers by the Buffaloes.{{cite news |url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2020/2/5/football-retired-numbers-to-circulate-back-into-use.aspx |title=Retired Numbers To Circulate Back Into Use |first=David |last=Plati |website=cubuffs.com |date=February 5, 2020 |accessdate=July 29, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Retired numbers – Colorado Athletics|url=https://static.cubuffs.com/custompages/football/2018_Info_Guide/438_retired_numbers.pdf|website=static.cubuffs.com}}{{cite press release |url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/4/14/football-buffs-to-retire-travis-hunters-no-12-shedeur-sanders-no-2-jerseys-saturday |title=Buffs to Retire Travis Hunter's No. 12, Shedeur Sanders' No. 2 Jerseys Saturday |publisher=Colorado Buffaloes |date=April 14, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=5 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}| Colorado Buffaloes retired numbers
style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}; width=50px | No.

! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}; width=150px | Player

! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}; width=50px | Pos.

! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}; width=100px | Tenure

! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|color=white}}; width=100px | Year retired

2Shedeur SandersQB2023–20242025
11Bobby AndersonQB/RB1967–19691969
12Travis HunterCB/WR2023–20242025
19{{dagger}}Rashaan SalaamRB1992–19942017
24Byron WhiteHB1935–19371937
67Joe RomigG1959–19611961

{{dagger}} = Posthumously honored

In 2020, Colorado athletic director Rick George announced plans to re-issue uniform numbers 24, 67, and 11, with the support of the noted players (or their families). Contemporary uniforms issued with those numbers will include a commemorative patch. Nonetheless, no player has used any of those numbers since the announcement.{{cite web|title=2020 Football Roster|url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/2020|website=cubuffs.com}}{{cite web|title=2021 Football Roster|url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/2021|website=cubuffs.com}}{{cite web|title=2022 Football Roster|url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/2022|website=cubuffs.com}}{{cite web|title=2023 Football Roster|url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/2023|website=cubuffs.com}} Uniform number 19 will remain unused for 19 years, after which it may be re-issued. In 2025 Shedeur Sanders' and Travis Hunter's numbers had been retired. Despite the controversy, they were drafted in the 2025 NFL draft as the 144th and 2nd pick respectively.

Future Big 12 opponents

On November 1, 2023, Colorado's Big 12 opponents from 2024 through 2027 were revealed.{{cite web |title=Big 12 Football Matrix 2024-2027 |url=https://big12sports.com/documents/2023/11/1//FB_Matrix_24_27.pdf}}

Home Schedule

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|border=2|team=Colorado Buffaloes|2025|2026|2027}}
Arizona

|Houston

|Arizona State

Arizona State

|Kansas State

|Kansas

BYU

|Texas Tech

|TCU

Iowa State

|UCF

|West Virginia

style="text-align: center;"| −

|Utah

| style="text-align: center;"| −

Away Schedule

class="wikitable"
{{CollegeSecondaryHeader|border=2|team=Colorado Buffaloes|2025|2026|2027}}
Houston

|Arizona State

|Arizona

Kansas State

|Baylor

|BYU

TCU

|Cincinnati

|Houston

Utah

|Oklahoma State

|Iowa State

style="text-align: center;"| West Virginia

| style="text-align: center;"| −

|UCF

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 19, 2023.{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Curtis |title=Buffs Add Five Games To Future Non-Conference Schedule |url=https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/12/19/football-buffs-add-five-games-to-future-non-conference-schedule |publisher=University of Colorado Athletics |date=December 19, 2023}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Colorado Buffaloes|border=2|2025|2026|2027|2028|2029|2030|2031}}
Aug. 29
Georgia Tech

| Sept. 5
at Georgia Tech

| Sept. 4
Colgate

| Sept. 2
UMass

| Sept. 1
TBA

| Aug. 31
SMU

| Aug. 30
Missouri

Sept. 6
Delaware

| Sept. 12
Weber State

| Sept. 11
Northwestern

| Sept. 9
at Florida

| Sept. 8
Florida

| Sept. 7
at Missouri

| Sept. 6
at SMU

Sept. 20
Wyoming

| Sept. 19
at Northwestern

| Sept. 18
Northern Illinois

| Sept. 16
Northern Colorado

| Sept. 15
at Colorado State

| Sept. 14
Colorado State

| Sept. 13
Northern Colorado

Others beyond 2031: vs. North Texas, Sept. 4, 2032; at North Texas, Sept. 3, 2033; vs. Colorado State, Sept. 17, 2033; at Colorado State, Sept. 16, 2034; vs. Colorado State, Sept. 19, 2037; at Colorado State, Sept. 11, 2038.

References

{{Reflist|30em}}