Here’s What Needs to Happen For Colorado Buffaloes to Make the Big 12 Championship

The Colorado Buffaloes have made an impressive turnaround this season, emerging as contenders for the Big 12 Championship and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. After finishing last season with a disappointing 4-8 record, the Buffs are now sitting at 8-3. While their loss to Kansas last week has complicated their path, hope is far from lost—but they’ll need to rely on both their own performance and some favorable results elsewhere.

For Colorado to keep their title hopes alive, the first order of business is a must-win game against Oklahoma State on Friday. Without this victory, any dreams of a championship appearance will be dashed. But even with a win, the Buffs’ fate is tied to several other games across the conference.

The Big 12 currently has a four-way tie for first place, with Colorado sharing the top spot with Arizona State, Iowa State, and BYU. To secure their spot in the championship game, Colorado ideally needs at least two of those teams to lose. However, if that doesn’t happen, there are specific scenarios to watch for. For one, BYU must lose to Houston. Additionally, Texas Tech needs to defeat West Virginia. If both outcomes align, Colorado’s earlier victory over Texas Tech would give them the tie-breaking edge, setting the stage for a title clash against either Arizona State or Iowa State.

If the Buffs fall short on Friday, they’ll close the season at 8-4, eliminating any shot at the College Football Playoff. Despite that, it would still mark a remarkable improvement, doubling their win total from last year and earning them their first bowl game appearance since 2020. For now, Colorado fans can hold onto the dream: a Big 12 Championship game appearance and the chance to play for something truly extraordinary.