The hype was real. Like, seriously off the charts. After a 9-4 season in 2024, everyone basically expected Deion Sanders and his crew to just keep rolling. But then the Colorado Buffaloes football schedule 2025 actually happened, and reality hit Boulder like a mountain blizzard.
Things didn't go as planned.
Honestly, finishing 3-9 was a gut punch for a program that had just spent the last year convincing the world they were "America’s Team." It’s kinda wild to look back at how those twelve games shook out, especially with seven of them happening right there at Folsom Field. Usually, having that many home games is a massive advantage. For the Buffs in 2025? It just felt like more opportunities for things to go sideways under the bright lights.
How the 2025 Schedule Actually Played Out
You’ve gotta start with the opener. August 29, a Friday night against Georgia Tech. People were camping out, the flyover was set, and then... a 20-27 loss. It set a weird tone. You could feel the air leave the stadium a little bit.
They bounced back against Delaware (31-7) and handled Wyoming (37-20), but those were games they were supposed to win comfortably. The real trouble started when the Big 12 slate kicked into high gear.
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The middle of the season was a blur of "almosts" and then "oh no." The 24-21 loss to BYU on September 27 was probably the turning point. If they win that one, maybe the momentum shifts. Instead, they hit a skid. They did manage to pull off a gritty 24-17 win over Iowa State in October, which was arguably the high point of the conference schedule, but that was the last time the fans got to sing "Fight CU" after a win that year.
The Full 2025 Game Results
If you missed the week-to-week carnage, here is how the results looked for the Colorado Buffaloes football schedule 2025:
- Aug 29: vs. Georgia Tech (L, 20-27)
- Sept 6: vs. Delaware (W, 31-7)
- Sept 12: at Houston (L, 20-36)
- Sept 20: vs. Wyoming (W, 37-20)
- Sept 27: vs. BYU (L, 21-24)
- Oct 4: at TCU (L, 21-35)
- Oct 11: vs. Iowa State (W, 24-17)
- Oct 25: at Utah (L, 7-53)
- Nov 1: vs. Arizona (L, 17-52)
- Nov 8: at West Virginia (L, 22-29)
- Nov 22: vs. Arizona State (L, 17-42)
- Nov 29: at Kansas State (L, 14-24)
Why Folsom Field Didn't Save Them
Seven home games. That hasn't happened in Boulder since 1982. On paper, that's a dream for any coach, let alone one who feeds off energy like Coach Prime.
But Folsom Field became a place of frustration. Losses to Arizona and Arizona State in November were particularly hard to swallow because the stadium was packed with people who expected a bowl run. Instead, the defense just couldn't get off the field. Ranking 112th in points allowed isn't just a "bad stat"—it’s a season-killer.
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When you’re giving up over 30 points a game, it doesn't matter how fast your receivers are or how much "Louis" you’ve got in the locker room. You're going to lose.
The Utah game was probably the low point. A 7-53 blowout in Salt Lake City showed just how far the gap was between the Buffs and the top of the Big 12 in 2025. It wasn't just a loss; it was a total breakdown in all three phases of the game.
The Transfer Portal Fallout
As soon as the season ended at Kansas State, the "Exodus" began. That’s just the era we live in now.
Safety Carter Stoutmire hitting the portal after three years was a big blow. He was one of the few bright spots on a defense that otherwise looked lost most of the time. He left with 92 tackles and a bunch of pass deflections, leaving a massive hole in the secondary.
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Of course, Deion did what Deion does. He immediately started recruiting defensive back transfers to patch the holes. But the 2025 season proved that you can't just "portal" your way to a championship if the fundamental chemistry isn't there. The 3-9 record is a cold, hard fact that no amount of social media hype can erase.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Cycle
If you're a Buffs fan looking toward the next season, there are a few things to keep an eye on. The 2025 season wasn't just a failure; it was a roadmap of what needs to change.
- Watch the O-Line recruiting: The 2025 schedule showed that the quarterback was under fire way too often. If they don't land at least three high-level starters in the trenches, 2026 will look the same.
- Defensive Scheme Shifts: With the 112th ranked scoring defense, expect a total overhaul of the defensive staff. Keep an eye on who Coach Prime brings in as the new coordinator.
- Ticket Market Trends: Believe it or not, despite the 3-9 record, attendance stayed high. If you're looking for 2026 tickets, don't expect a price drop—the "Prime Effect" still keeps Folsom Field expensive.
- The "Year 4" Narrative: Most coaches get a "pass" for year three, but year four is usually when the seat starts getting warm. The 2026 schedule will be the ultimate test of whether the 2025 collapse was a fluke or a trend.
The Colorado Buffaloes football schedule 2025 is officially in the history books, and while it wasn't the "Gold Rush" fans wanted, it certainly wasn't boring. Now, the focus shifts to whether the program can actually learn from a three-win season or if the hype train has finally run out of track.