Colorado football's brutal early schedule could define 2026 season

Every year, college football teams face a season-defining stretch of games. Sometimes that stretch happens at the beginning of the season, before you even realize it might matter. No matter when it takes place, they can make-or-break the season.

Last season, Colorado faced a five-game stretch in October that included matchups against BYU, Utah and Arizona. The Buffs were blown out in the final two games of that stretch and never recovered.

Games are still more than three months from kicking off, but a simple glance at Colorado's 2026 schedule and the most difficult stretch is easily identifiable. Three of the team's first four games are both on the road and against Power Four opponents (Georgia Tech, Northwestern, and Baylor). Those three games come right before a home matchup against the reigning Big 12 champions, the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Buffaloes open their season with four high-caliber Power Four programs before getting a respite with a Week 6 bye.

What makes this stretch so challenging?

The fact that it opens Colorado's season is the biggest factor. CU is a team filled with 40-plus transfers and an entirely new coaching staff, making chemistry that much more important. Chemistry takes time and perhaps even takes a few games. The Buffs don't have the leeway to start the season slow, putting added pressure on the season's first five games.

Going 3-2 during that stretch should be what CU fans expect. A win against Weber State should be a given, and winning two of the three games against Georgia Tech, Northwestern, or Baylor puts Colorado in a position to play with nothing to lose against Texas Tech. Heading into the bye week at 3-2 or, if everything goes right, 4-1 would put the Buffs in a great position to make a bowl game, if not do even better than six wins.

Come the October 10 bye week, the entire college football world should have a pretty good idea of how good Deion Sanders' 2026 Colorado Buffaloes can be. Will it be another 3-9 season, or is a bowl game on the horizon?

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