The hype was massive. Deion Sanders, "Coach Prime," and a roster full of stars had everyone from Boulder to Bristol talking about a deep postseason run. But as we hit the peak of the 2025-26 bowl season in January 2026, many fans are refreshing their apps and asking the same question: what bowl is Colorado playing in this year?
Honestly, the answer isn’t what most people expected when the season kicked off last August.
The Colorado Buffaloes are not playing in a bowl game for the 2025-26 season. After a grueling campaign in the Big 12, the Buffs finished with a 3–9 overall record (1–8 in conference play). Since NCAA rules generally require a minimum of six wins to reach bowl eligibility, Colorado's season officially ended on November 29, 2025, following a 24–14 loss to Kansas State.
Why the Buffaloes Missed the 2025 Postseason
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base that saw a glimpse of glory in the previous season. The 2025 schedule was relentless. It started with promise—a decent win against Delaware and a solid 37–20 victory over Wyoming—but the wheels sort of fell off once the meat of the Big 12 schedule arrived.
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If you look at the stats, the defense was the primary culprit. They struggled to stop the run and frequently gave up big plays in the fourth quarter. Games against Utah and Arizona were particularly lopsided, with the Buffs losing 53–7 and 52–17 respectively. By the time they hit their seven-loss mark against West Virginia in early November, the math for a bowl berth simply didn't work anymore.
Interestingly, there was a lot of talk early in the year about a potential "legacy" tie-in. Even though Colorado moved to the Big 12, a special agreement allowed former Pac-12 teams to keep their old bowl connections for the 2025-26 cycle. This meant that if they had reached six wins, we might have seen them in the Sun Bowl or even a return to the Alamo Bowl.
The State of the 2025-26 Bowl Landscape
While Colorado stays home, the rest of the college football world is moving through one of the most chaotic playoff brackets in history. We are currently in the thick of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. As of mid-January 2026, the semifinals have just wrapped up.
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- The Fiesta Bowl (Jan 8): Ole Miss took on Miami in a high-scoring thriller.
- The Peach Bowl (Jan 9): Oregon battled Indiana in a rematch that lived up to the hype.
- National Championship (Jan 19): The winners are headed to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens to play for the title.
It’s a far cry from the "Coach Prime" era's expectations. Most analysts, like those at ESPN and The Athletic, projected Colorado to be a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team that could sneak into a 6-win or 7-win bowl slot. Instead, the team faced a "sophomore slump" in terms of their Big 12 transition.
What’s Next for Colorado Football?
Missing a bowl game in back-to-back years (2024 and 2025) puts a lot of pressure on the 2026 recruiting cycle. The transfer portal will be the primary tool for Deion Sanders to patch the holes in the offensive line and the defensive secondary.
The 2026 schedule is already out, and it doesn't look any easier. They open on the road against Georgia Tech on September 5, 2026, followed by a home game against Weber State and another road trip to Northwestern.
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For fans wondering what bowl is Colorado playing in, the focus has to shift toward the "Road to 2026." The eligibility threshold remains six wins. To get there, the Buffs need to find more consistency in their run game and, more importantly, a way to keep their star players healthy through the November stretch.
Actionable Steps for Buffs Fans:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: The winter window is currently open. Watch for defensive line commits, as that was the biggest weakness in 2025.
- Check 2026 Season Ticket Renewals: The university usually sends these out in late January or February.
- Watch the National Championship: On January 19, you’ll see the level of play required to compete in the new 12-team playoff era.
The postseason might be empty for Colorado this January, but the rebuild in Boulder is far from over.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to look ahead, I can break down the 2026 Colorado Football schedule or give you the latest updates on Big 12 transfer portal rankings to see how the Buffs are reloading.