Upcoming Colorado Buffaloes Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Colorado football in brief: the 1990 champions back in the Big 12
Colorado plays its home games at Folsom Field on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, and the regular season runs from late August or early September through late November. The program dates to 1890. It played in the Big Eight from 1948 to 1995, was a charter member of the Big 12 from 1996 to 2010, spent 2011 through 2023 in the Pac-12, and returned to the Big 12 in 2024.
The 1990 team went 11–1–1, beat Notre Dame 10–9 in the Orange Bowl, and finished first in the Associated Press and Football Writers polls, sharing the national title with Georgia Tech, which topped the Coaches Poll. Running back Rashaan Salaam won the Heisman Trophy in 1994, and two-way star Travis Hunter won it in 2024.
The colors are silver, black and gold, the fight song is "Fight CU," and the mascot is Ralphie, a live bison. Staff and rosters change, so check CU's official site for the current coaching staff.
Where to sit at Folsom Field
Folsom Field opened on October 11, 1924, as Colorado Stadium and was renamed in 1944 for former coach Fred Folsom. Capacity has been 50,183 since 2014; the record crowd is 54,972 for Colorado State in 2005, when capacity was higher. The stadium is a horseshoe with the field running north to south, it sits at 5,360 feet (the third-highest stadium in the FBS), and the playing surface switched from natural grass to FieldTurf beginning in 2025.
East vs. west sideline
With a north–south field, the afternoon sun sets toward the west. West-side seats have the sun behind them late in the game; east-side seats face it, but they also face the Flatirons, the rock formations to the southwest that give Folsom its postcard view. At this altitude, sunburn comes fast at day games and cold arrives quickly at night games, so choose your side and your layers together.
Sideline vs. end zone
Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines give the best view of the game, and mid-level rows beat the front rows, where the benches block part of the field. Because Folsom is a horseshoe, the end-zone seats curve toward the field and give a decent angle on red-zone plays at a lower price. Upper rows offer the widest look at the foothills.
Ralphie's route
Ralphie's run traces a horseshoe pattern across the field before each half, so seats low on either sideline get the closest look at it.
Rivalries and the Colorado games that draw the most demand
- Nebraska: a Big Eight and Big 12 rivalry that faded after Colorado left in 2011 and resumed in nonconference play starting in 2018.
- Colorado State: the Rocky Mountain Showdown for the Centennial Cup began in 1893. It was played in Denver for most years from 1998 to 2019 and has since returned to campus sites. Colorado leads the series by a wide margin, and the next scheduled meeting is in 2029 in Fort Collins.
- Utah: a rivalry renewed in the Pac-12 after a long gap, and now a Big 12 matchup again.
- Big 12 opponents: ranked conference teams, homecoming and night games on national television draw the strongest demand.
September nonconference games against smaller programs are usually the easiest tickets to find,, while ranked opponents can sell through quickly.
Ralphie, altitude and gameday in Boulder
The signature tradition is the Ralphie Run. Before each half of every home game, the announcer calls "Here comes Ralphie," and a team of handlers, typically five on the field at once, run the bison in a horseshoe around the field with the team following. The handlers are student-athletes who earn varsity letters. Live bison have run at Folsom since 1967, seven animals have held the role, and Ralphie VII debuted on September 20, 2025.
At 5,360 feet, visitors should drink water, use sunscreen at day games and expect sharp temperature drops after dark, especially in November. Parking near campus is limited and fills early. Bag rules, parking costs and transit options change, so check CU's football site and its gameday guide before you go.
How Colorado football tickets work
CU sells season tickets first, with priority for the best sideline locations tied to donations to the athletic department's donor program. Students receive a separate allotment. Single-game tickets go on sale after season tickets are placed and can sell through quickly for high-profile games.
When the primary supply runs out, the resale market becomes the way most fans get in. Prices move with the team's record, the opponent's ranking, the kickoff time and the weather forecast; they tend to ease close to kickoff for lower-demand games and climb for marquee ones.
Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee, with guaranteed entry and no digital transfer fees.
Folsom Field history and concerts
Folsom grew from 26,000 seats at its opening to a peak of 53,750 from 2003 to 2009 before settling at its current size. Beyond football, it is one of the country's notable college-stadium concert venues: the Grateful Dead played there in 1972 and 1980, and Dead & Company played 13 shows across several summers from 2016 to 2023. The largest crowd ever at the stadium, an estimated 61,500, came for a 1977 concert festival.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Colorado Buffaloes play home football games?
Colorado plays at Folsom Field on the CU campus in Boulder. It opened in 1924 and has a capacity of 50,183.
What is the Ralphie Run?
Before each half of every home game, handlers run Ralphie, a live female bison, in a horseshoe pattern around the field with the team following. Live bison have run at Folsom since 1967.
Which side of Folsom Field is in the sun?
The field runs north to south, so during afternoon games the east-side seats face the setting sun and the west side has it at their backs. East-side seats also face the Flatirons.
How high is Folsom Field?
Folsom Field sits at 5,360 feet, the third-highest stadium in the FBS. Drink water and bring layers for night games.
What conference is Colorado football in?
Colorado returned to the Big 12 in 2024 after 13 seasons in the Pac-12. It was a charter member of the Big 12 from 1996 to 2010.