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Colorado Buffaloes Snubbed By Bowl Projections
23 Aug
Summary
- ESPN projects 11 of 16 Big 12 teams for bowls, excluding Colorado.
- Colorado faces tough schedule with ranked opponents like Texas Tech and Utah.
- Coach Deion Sanders is confident despite bleak bowl projections for 2026.
The Colorado Buffaloes are heading into the 2026 season with a different atmosphere, fueled by Coach Deion Sanders' return to confidence and promising new talent. Despite these internal strengths, external projections offer little optimism. ESPN's latest predictions, released on August 22, 2026, forecast 11 of the 16 Big 12 teams earning bowl game invitations, conspicuously omitting the Buffaloes.
Several Big 12 teams, including BYU and Texas Tech, received significant bowl projections. Teams like Arizona State, TCU, Cincinnati, and Houston are expected to return to bowl games, with Houston even being projected for the Alamo Bowl. Notably, teams that finished with .500 records or below, such as Kansas and Baylor, were projected for bowls over Colorado.
The Buffaloes' path to bowl eligibility appears challenging, with key games against Georgia Tech on September 5, followed by ranked opponents No. 12 Texas Tech on October 3 and Utah later that month. A matchup against No. 23 Houston on November 14 presents another significant test. Colorado must achieve a 6-6 record, with critical wins against these ranked foes, to persuade bowl committees.
