Tag: Big 12 Football

Colorado’s 2024 schedule features late-season game at Arrowhead Stadium

Colorado will be playing at a prominent NFL stadium in 2024

Colorado’s 2024 football schedule was released on Tuesday morning, bringing great excitement for what should be a new and improved Buffs squad this upcoming fall.

With CU rejoining the Big 12 Conference and a slew of longtime rivals, there’s a whirlwind of anticipation for next season. To add to the fun, Colorado will head to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, on Nov. 23 to play the Kansas Jayhawks.

The game’s new location is due to the ongoing renovations at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, but seeing the Buffs back on an NFL field for the first time since 2021 should be a sight to see nonetheless.

While Colorado lost to UCLA in front of over 71,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in October, facing the Jayhawks in the NFL’s fourth-largest stadium this upcoming fall could attract an even larger crowd.

The 2024 college football season is still several months away and Colorado’s trip to Arrowhead comes late in the year. But with plenty of current Buffs players expected to make careers in the NFL, seeing how they function in the home of the Kansas City Chiefs — the NFL’s most successful franchise in recent years — could give fans a glimpse into the future.

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Big 12 announces finalized dates for Colorado football’s 2024 schedule

Colorado’s 2024 schedule is here. Take a look:

The newly-expanded Big 12 Conference announced its 2024 football league schedule on Tuesday.

Following nonconference games against North Dakota State, Nebraska and Colorado State, the Colorado Buffaloes will host Baylor in their Big 12 opener on Sept. 21. Head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs are then set to face UCF in Orlando the following weekend, marking CU’s first-ever meeting with the Knights.

Other highlights include an Oct. 12 homecoming game vs. Kansas State and road matchups at Arizona, Texas Tech and Kansas. With the Jayhawks’ home stadium in Lawrence undergoing renovations, Colorado’s Nov. 23 matchup against Kansas is scheduled to be played at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Buffs will enjoy two bye weeks (Week 6 and 10) and a total of six home games. Their 2024 regular season will conclude against Oklahoma State on Nov. 29 at Folsom Field.

Before spending the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12, Colorado was a member of the Big Seven/Big Eight/Big 12 from 1948-2010.

Here’s a complete look at Colorado football’s 2024 schedule:

  • Aug. 31 vs. North Dakota State
  • Sept. 7 at Nebraska
  • Sept. 14 at Colorado State
  • Sept. 21 vs. Baylor
  • Sept. 28 at UCF
  • Oct. 12 vs. Kansas State
  • Oct. 19 at Arizona
  • Oct. 26 vs. Cincinnati
  • Nov. 9 at Texas Tech
  • Nov. 16 vs. Utah
  • Nov. 23 at Kansas
  • Nov. 29 vs. Oklahoma State

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Way-too-early record predictions for every Big 12 football team in 2024

Did we get it right?

A new era of college football will begin this fall with several powerhouse programs entering new conferences.

In addition to Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, 10 different Pac-12 programs are joining either the Big Ten, Big 12 or ACC. Colorado, along with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, landed in the Big 12, creating a 16-team conference that stretches across nearly the entire country.

While rosters are still expected to change considerably over the next few months with another transfer portal window opening in April, it’s time to begin looking ahead to the 2024 season. Below are my way-too-early record predictions for every Big 12 football team in 2024:

Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan are set to return to Arizona

Two big names are returning to Tucson for the 2024 season.

On Saturday it was reported that Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan would be returning to the Arizona Wildcats in 2024. This is a major victory for the Wildcats and new head coach Brent Brennan. The news was reported by Greg Biggins of 247Sports.

It was widely speculated that the two All-American players might enter the transfer portal and potentially follow their head coach to Washington. McMillan was named third-team All-American by the AP for his efforts this past season. Quarterback Noah Fifita was named freshman All-American by the FWAA.

Both will be crucial to the success of the Wildcats as they head into their first season in the Big 12. They will join Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah in the new-look conference. Fifita took over for the injured Jayden De Laura last season and he didn’t miss a beat. De Laura returned from injury but couldn’t unseat the talented redshirt freshman.

De Laura will now take his talents to Texas State. Once he joined incumbent starter T.J. Finley put his name in the transfer portal and ultimately committed to play for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

As far as the Wildcats and new head coach Brent Brennan, this is a major win for them.

A Big 12 look at the post-national championship US LBM Coaches Poll

Five 2024 Big 12 teams were ranked in the post-national championship Coaches Poll

The final US LBM Coaches Poll of the 2023 college football season was released Tuesday and five 2024 Big 12 teams were ranked in the top 25.

Leading the way was No. 11 Arizona, which improved three spots after beating new-No. 15 Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats, along with Colorado, Arizona State and Utah, will be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12 ahead of next season.

Behind Arizona was No. 15 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Kansas State, No. 23 Kansas and No. 25 West Virginia. After beating North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Kansas State made the biggest leap out of any ranked team, jumping nine spots to No. 19.

Colorado will face each of those five ranked Big 12 teams next season except for West Virginia.

Looking back at Colorado’s first campaign under head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffs were ranked as high as No. 19 but never re-entered the top 25 after falling to Oregon in Week 4.

Below is a complete look at the post-College Football Playoff National Championship US LBM Coaches Poll:

Rank Team Record Points Change
1 Michigan 15-0 1575 (63) –
2 Washington 14-1 1,507 –
3 Georgia 13-1 1,389 +3
4 Texas 12-2 1,382 –
5 Alabama 12-2 1,356 -1
6 Florida State 12-2 1,218 -3
7 Oregon 13-1 1,213 +1
8 Missouri 12-2 1,143 +1
9 Ole Miss 11-2 1,082 +2
10 Ohio State 11-2 952 -3
11 Arizona 10-3 932 +3
12 LSU 10-3 890 +1
13 Penn State 10-3 811 -3
14 Notre Dame 10-3 772 +2
15 Oklahoma 10-3 691 -3
16 Oklahoma State 9-4 575 +5
17 Tennessee 10-4 529 +6
18 Louisville 9-4 460 -3
19 Kansas State 10-4 386 +9
20 Clemson 9-4 334 +6
21 North Carolina State 9-4 271 -3
22 Iowa 10-4 249 -5
23 Kansas 9-4 158 +7
24 SMU 11-3 119 -5
25 West Virginia 9-4 117 +6

Schools Dropped Out

No. 20 Liberty; No. 22 Oregon State; No. 24 Tulane; No. 25 James Madison;

Others Receiving Votes

Liberty 98; Oregon State 90; Tulane 34; James Madison 24; Memphis 23; Troy 17; North Carolina 17; USC 9; Air Force 7; UTSA 5; Northwestern 3; Fresno State 3; Boise State 3; Wyoming 1; UNLV 1; Duke 1;

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Texas ranks No. 3 in final AP Top 25 poll

Texas receives a Top 3 finish for the 2023 season.

The Texas Longhorns are the No. 3 ranked team in the final AP poll of the season. The ranking comes on the heels of Monday night’s national title game.

Texas had a breakout season in 2023. After years of falling below the 10 win standard set by former head coach Mack Brown, the Longhorns went 12-2, won their conference and made the College Football Playoff.

The ranking wraps up a memorable season for the team after a tough loss to No. 2 Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal. How the team handles success will reveal how much the culture has resonated with younger players as team leaders like wide receiver Jordan Whittington depart for the NFL.

For now, Texas looks to be a program on the rise after seeing three-win regular season improvement from its first to second season and second to third year. The Longhorns will next take the field as members of the SEC in 2024 with a trip to Ann Arbor to face reigning national champion Michigan in Week 2.

Texas S Jerrin Thompson enters transfer portal

Several Texas players entered the transfer portal on Friday.

Texas senior safety Jerrin Thompson entered the transfer portal on Friday, according to On3.  Continue reading “Texas S Jerrin Thompson enters transfer portal”

Texas QB Charles Wright enters transfer portal as a grad transfer

The backup quarterback will now look for a new home.

A few Texas Longhorns entered the transfer portal on Friday, and backup quarterback Charles Wright was one of them. Continue reading “Texas QB Charles Wright enters transfer portal as a grad transfer”

Each Big 12 team’s biggest transfer portal loss from the first post-regular season window

We broke down each Big 12 team’s biggest transfer portal loss with the first post-regular season window now closed

Although we’ll likely still see college football players enter the transfer portal this month for one reason or another, the first post-regular season window closed on Tuesday night.

Colorado watched 11 of its players enter, including two starting offensive linemen and longtime Buffs linebacker Marvin Ham II. On the flip side, head coach Deion Sanders and his staff have landed 18 transfer commits with more expected to follow.

The next open transfer portal window is set for April 15-30.

With the Buffaloes rejoining their former conference next season, below is each Big 12 team’s biggest transfer portal loss now that the first post-regular season window is closed:

Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman to return for a seventh year

Bowman is returning for another run at the Big 12 title.

Cam Rising, Tyler Shough, and Alan Bowman were all quarterbacks who were part of the 2018 recruiting class. Bowman became the latest of the three to announce they would return for a seventh season of college football.

In 2018 Rising signed with Texas before transferring to Utah. Shough was originally with Oregon before transferring to Texas Tech and more recently to Louisville. Bowman started with Texas Tech before a stop in Michigan and then Oklahoma State last season. Bowman hopes to finish what he started in 2023, just falling short of a Big 12 championship.

Bowman announced on X (formerly Twitter), that he just received word that he was granted another year of eligibility.

“Just want to say thanks to all my Oklahoma State teammates, the coaches and fans for helping make the 2023 season the most fun I’ve ever had playing football. Bowman continued, “That said, I just heard back that I was granted another year of eligibility, and we have unfinished business. I love Stillwater and this program, so I’ll be back in 2024 to make a championship run. Go Pokes!”

Oklahoma State finished 10-4 and 7-2 in Big 12 play this past season. Along with Bowman, the Cowboys will have Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II as well. That is a great start for the 2024 campaign in the new-look conference.

The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners will officially leave for the SEC on July, 1, when the Big 12 will officially welcome the Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Colorado Buffaloes, and Utah Utes. Depending on the schedule, we could see Cam Rising and the Utes face off against fellow seventh-year quarterback Alan Bowman and the Cowboys.