Honestly, walking into the CU Events Center this season feels different. It’s not just the crisp Boulder air or the lingering buzz from the football season; it’s the fact that the Colorado women’s basketball schedule is no longer a Pac-12 affair. The Buffaloes have officially jumped into the deep end of the Big 12, and if you think this is going to be a walk in the park compared to the old days of UCLA and Stanford, you’re kidding yourself.
Coach JR Payne is entering her 10th season. That’s a decade. She’s seen the program go from a total rebuild to back-to-back Sweet Sixteens. But 2025-26? This is a whole new beast. The schedule is a relentless grind through the Heartland, featuring road trips to places like Stillwater and Manhattan that are, frankly, hostile.
The Road Through the Big 12
The Big 12 isn't just a conference; it's a gauntlet. People talk about the travel, but the real story is the depth. You don’t get nights off. The colorado women's basketball schedule for this winter is basically a roadmap of high-stakes matchups.
The Buffs rang in the New Year with a home stand against Arizona and Cincinnati, but the real tests started appearing the moment they stepped on a plane. Take January 8th, for instance. A road trip to Waco to face #16 Baylor. That’s a tough environment for anyone, let alone a team still trying to find its identity after losing stalwarts like Jaylyn Sherrod.
Key January Matchups
- At Baylor (Jan 8): A 52-56 heartbreak. It showed the Buffs can defend at an elite level, but the scoring droughts are real.
- At Oklahoma State (Jan 11): Another road loss, 56-63. Stillwater is a "snake pit" for a reason.
- Iowa State (Jan 14): A massive home game against the #19 Cyclones. This is where the season usually turns.
Basically, the schedule is back-loaded with some of the most physical teams in the country. If the Buffs want to make a third straight deep run, they have to survive this stretch.
Why This Schedule Is a Nightmare (and a Blessing)
Some fans were worried that leaving the Pac-12 would hurt the team's SOS (Strength of Schedule). It didn't. If anything, the colorado women's basketball schedule is more dense now. In the Pac-12, you had a few "bottom feeders" you could rely on for a win. In the Big 12, even the teams at the bottom of the standings play a style of basketball that leaves you bruised.
Payne’s squad is remodeled. We’re talking about 5th-year center JoJo Nworie and transfers like Zyanna Walker (who came over from Kansas State, talk about a revenge game). These players were brought in specifically because they fit the Big 12 mold: tough, physical, and versatile.
Look at the February stretch. It’s wild. They go from Kansas on Feb 1 to hosting West Virginia on Feb 4. West Virginia plays a "press-you-until-you-quit" style of defense. Then TCU comes to town on Feb 8. There’s no room to breathe.
Breaking Down the Home Atmosphere
If you haven't been to a game at the CU Events Center recently, you're missing out. The "Sobo" (South Boulder) crowd has actually become a factor. When Oklahoma State visits on Jan 25, or when Utah comes to town for that massive rivalry game on Feb 24, the altitude isn't the only thing the visitors have to worry about.
The Buffs are currently sitting around the middle of the pack in the conference standings, but their home record is what keeps them in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
The Non-Conference Foundation
Earlier in the season, the Buffs took care of business against teams like New Mexico (84-59) and Boise State (83-53). They did stumble against #22 Louisville and Montana State—a one-point loss that still stings—but those games served a purpose. They exposed the cracks. You’d rather see a flaw in November than find out about it during the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
Looking Ahead: The Final Push
The regular season wraps up with a trip to Provo to face BYU on Feb 28. Then, it's off to the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship.
The reality is that the colorado women's basketball schedule doesn't end in February. For a program with this much recent success, the expectation is March. Every game right now is essentially a seed-building exercise. A win against a team like West Virginia or Utah in late February could be the difference between a 5-seed and an 8-seed. And nobody wants to see a 1-seed in the second round.
Honestly, the transition has been a bit of a roller coaster. The Buffs have shown they can play with anyone, but the consistency isn't quite there yet. They’ve had games where they look like a top-10 team and others where they struggle to break 50 points. That's just Big 12 basketball. It's ugly, it's grit-and-grind, and it's exactly what JR Payne thrives on.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on following the rest of the season, here’s what you actually need to do:
- Watch the turnovers: The Big 12 leads the nation in forced turnovers. If the Buffs keep it under 14, they usually win.
- Track the transfers: Keep an eye on Jade Masogayo and Anaëlle Dutat. Their ability to rebound against the Big 12's bigger frontlines is the "secret sauce" for this team.
- Check the TV listings: Big 12 games are scattered across ESPN+, FS1, and occasionally big ESPN. Don't assume it's on the old Pac-12 Network—that's gone.
- Get to the Events Center early: The student section has been filling up fast for conference play, especially for the weekend afternoon games.
The journey through the colorado women's basketball schedule is far from over. It’s going to be a bumpy ride to Kansas City, but that’s exactly how this team likes it. They aren't the favorites anymore, and being the underdog seems to suit them just fine.