Colorado at Northwestern - 2026 Matchup Preview

Colorado Buffaloes at Northwestern Wildcats

Saturday, September 19th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
L&S Martin Stadium (Temp) - Evanston, IL

Buffaloes (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Deion Sanders (16 - 21)
Avg Score : 21 - 31 (17 - 35 on Road)
Record Prediction: 3 - 9 (#115)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: Northwestern -14 (SP+ NW -14)
Projected Score: COLO: 16 - NW: 30 (46)
NW Win prob: 86% | Cover: 55%
COLO Travel: 925 miles, 1 hrs behind

Wildcats (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach David Braun (19 - 19)
Avg Score : 23 - 20 (27 - 12 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 6.7 - 6.3 (#69)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
COLO Players
NW Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Colorado's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 9/3	Colorado at Georgia Tech	+17
Sat 9/12	Colorado vs Weber State	-15.5
Sat 9/19	Colorado at Northwestern	+14
Sat 9/26	Colorado at Baylor	+12.5
Sat 10/3	Colorado vs Texas Tech	+32
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/17	Colorado vs Utah	+22
Sat 10/24	Colorado at Oklahoma State	+2
Sat 10/31	Colorado vs Kansas State	+11.5
Sat 11/7	Colorado at Arizona State	+14
Sat 11/14	Colorado vs Houston	+12
Sat 11/21	Colorado at Cincinnati	+14
Sat 11/28	Colorado vs UCF	+3

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Colorado's Schedule

Northwestern's 2026 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/19	Northwestern vs Colorado	-14

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
COLO	#99 (.12)	35% (131)	20.9	35% (131)	2.68 (116)	127	35% (122)	203	3.48 (95)	#106 (.21)	43% (87)	30.5	44% (88)	43% (78)	4.01 (102)	49.9	1.4	1.3
NW	#83 (.15)	43% (57)	23.4	46% (46)	2.97 (64)	161	42% (66)	186	3.21 (116)	#72 (.17)	45% (117)	19.8	47% (119)	44% (101)	3.37 (41)	33.8	1.6	1.5

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
COLO		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NW		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
COLO Offense	12	20.9	16.8	35.2%	3.48	1.4	17	329	127	203	3.6	49%	50%	35%	35%	20%	.12
NW Defense	13	19.8	12.4	45.3%	3.37	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	52%	46%	47%	44%	15%	.17

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
COLO Defense	12	30.5	35.4	43%	4.01	1.3	-	-	-	-	-	60%	39%	44%	43%	15%	.21
NW Offense	13	23.4	26.8	43.2%	3.21	1.6	20	347	161	186	4.7	51%	47%	46%	42%	17%	.15

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Colorado	12	28:49	17.3	38%	33%	5.7	49.9	1.4	1.3	5	1.2	0	28.7
Northwestern	13	32:18	19.7	43%	59%	4.2	33.8	1.6	1.5	4	1.8	0	28.5

Run Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
COLO Offense	12	49% (75)	35% (131)	35.3	126.7	3.6	15 (70)	.05 (103)	2.68 (116)	67% (97)	14% (133)	1.08 (27)
NW Defense	13	52% (91)	47% (119)	-	-	-	-	.18 (108)	3.16 (113)	71% (63)	9% (93)	0.99 (85)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
COLO Defense	12	60% (133)	44% (88)	-	-	-	-	.11 (72)	2.97 (81)	67% (37)	9% (80)	1.02 (97)
NW Offense	13	51% (57)	46% (46)	34.5	160.9	4.7	16 (99)	.14 (58)	2.97 (64)	76% (41)	8% (33)	0.91 (92)

Pass Game Stats (2026)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
COLO Offense	12	50% (59)	35% (122)	17.5	29.7	202.8	6.8	11.6	17 (50)	11 (88)	.22 (84)	1.8 (9)	38% (136)	30% (70)	.32 (62)	6% (72)	2.1 (27)
NW Defense	13	46% (38)	44% (101)	-	-	-	-	-	-	9 (75)	.24 (63)	1.4 (6)	28% (119)	34% (120)	.32 (82)	6% (62)	1.8 (20)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
COLO Defense	12	39% (4)	43% (78)	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 (100)	.41 (127)	1.8 (132)	31% (77)	29% (70)	.32 (77)	6% (73)	2.2 (116)
NW Offense	13	47% (81)	42% (66)	17.2	29.1	185.9	6.4	10.8	17 (75)	13 (108)	.21 (85)	1.5 (97)	30% (46)	33% (33)	.31 (66)	9% (130)	1.8 (128)

Colorado's Power Ratings
Colorado's Power Rating: -7.33 #83
Colorado's Offense Rating: 6.87 #89
Colorado's Defense Rating: 19.20 #80
2026 Talent Rating: 694.00 #75
Blue Chip Ratio: 21% #25
Colorado's 2026 Expected Record: 3.0 - 9.0
Colorado's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: -8.3 #96
Colorado's Offense SP+ Rating: 22.6 #103
Colorado's Defense SP+ Rating: 29.5 #88

Average Talent
Average Big 12 Talent Rating is 796.63
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75

Power Ratings Matchup
Colorado: -7.33 Northwestern: 6.145

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Colorado: -8.3 Northwestern: 5.8

Northwestern's Power Ratings
Northwestern's Power Rating: 6.145 #59
Northwestern's Offense Rating: 11.07 #66
Northwestern's Defense Rating: 14.58 #52
2026 Talent Rating: 886.00 #28
Blue Chip Ratio: 3 #65
Northwestern's 2026 Expected Record: 6.7 - 6.3
Northwestern's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 5.8 #51
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 24.4 #90
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #30

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 896.78
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75

Colorado Scoring
Offense: 20.9 PPG
Offense on Road: 16.8
Defense: 30.5 PPG
Defense on Road: 35.4

Colorado's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Northwestern 30
Colorado 16

Projected Total Points: 46

Northwestern Scoring
Offense: 23.4 PPG
Offense at Home: 26.8
Defense: 19.8 PPG
Defense at Home: 12.4

Northwestern's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northwestern	0	0	0 Overs
Colorado	0	0	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0	0 - 0

(#83) COLO at (#59) NW

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	COLO	NW
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#83	#59
SP+SP+	#96	#51
Perf GradeGrade	NR	NR
OffenseOff	NR	NR
DefenseDef	NR	NR
Spec TeamsST	NR	NR
TalentTal	#75	#28
Blue ChipsBC%	#25	#65

Colorado Injury Report

Northwestern Injury Report

Colorado on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	NW Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#131	#117
ExplosiveExp	#4	#12
PPAPPA	#99	#72
PowerPwr	#89	#52
SP+SP+	#103	#30
Pts POPPO	#95	#41
HavocHav	#129	#83

Colorado Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	NW Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#131	#119
Run ExplRExp	#27	#85
PPAExp	#103	#108
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#116	#113
Stuff RateStuff	#113	#118
TackleTak	-	NR

Colorado Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	COLO Off	NW Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#122	#101
Pass ExplPExl	#9	#6
PPAExp	#84	#63
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#133	#93
DB HavocDB	#72	#62

Northwestern on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	NW Off	COLO Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	NR
SuccessSuc	#57	#87
ExplosiveExp	#108	#111
PPAPPA	#83	#106
PowerPwr	#66	#80
SP+SP+	#90	#88
Pts POPPO	#116	#102
HavocHav	#94	#80

Northwestern Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	NW Off	COLO Def
Run GameRun	NR	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#46	#88
Run ExplRExp	#92	#97
PPAExp	#58	#72
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	#64	#81
Stuff RateStuff	#48	#57
TackleTak	-	NR

Northwestern Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 47%, Run: 51%
CategoryCat	NW Off	COLO Def
Pass GamePass	NR	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#66	#78
Pass ExplPExl	#97	#132
PPAExp	#85	#127
Pass Block/RushP Blk	NR	NR
F7 HavocF7	#33	#80
DB HavocDB	#130	#73

Program Comparison
NW 5 Year Profile: Improving Top G5
'26 Profile: Up to Below Avg P4

COLO 5 Year Profile: Declining Average G5
'26 Profile: Remains Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in L&S Martin Stadium (Temp)
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

No Matchups Past 4 Years

COLO's OC Brennan Marion (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Julian Lewis	52	94	55%	589	4	0	6.3
Colton Allen	1	1	100%	4	0	0	4.0

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Damian Henderson II (Tr)	91	565	5	6.2	85
Jaquail Smith (Tr)	76	511	5	6.7	45
Micah Welch	96	384	4	4.0	44
Dekalon Taylor	19	83	0	4.4	23

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Danny Scudero (Tr)	88	1297	10	14.7	72
Kamryn Perry	43	976	6	22.7	66
Ernest Campbell (Tr)	37	755	8	20.4	75
DeAndre Moore Jr. (Tr)	38	532	4	14.0	46

View Colorado's Full Roster

COLO's DC Robert Livingston (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Gideon Lampron (Tr)	119	18	3	4	1
Naeten Mitchell (Tr)	92	2	0	0	7
Liona Lefau (Tr)	68	2	0	0	3
Randon Fontenette (Tr)	51	7	0	5	6

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Ezra Christensen (Tr)	41	11	5	10	2
Santana Hopper (Tr)	25	9	5	4	0
Vili Taufatofua (Tr)	34	7	4	7	1
Dylan Manuel (Tr)	37	7	3	5	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Justin Eaglin (Tr)	35	0	0	8
Naeten Mitchell (Tr)	92	2	0	7
Randon Fontenette (Tr)	51	7	5	6

NW's OC Chip Kelly (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Aidan Chiles (Tr)	128	203	63%	1392	10	3	6.9
Ryan Boe	2	7	29%	17	0	1	2.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Caleb Komolafe	190	941	11	5.0	56
Gavin Sawchuk (Tr)	109	486	8	4.5	40
Joseph Himon II	99	486	1	4.9	37
Aidan Chiles (Tr)	81	227	6	2.8	64

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Griffin Wilde	71	880	8	12.4	49
Hayden Eligon Ii	37	521	3	14.1	38
Ricky Ahumaraeze	10	200	0	20.0	35
Drew Wagner	22	172	2	7.8	40

View Northwestern's Full Roster

NW's DC Tim McGarigle (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Robert Fitzgerald	106	6	0	1	4
Braydon Brus	81	5	3	4	4
Braden Turner	52	2	0	1	2
Michael Kilbane	42	8	4	8	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Michael Kilbane	42	8	4	8	1
Braydon Brus	81	5	3	4	4
Mason Green	1	1	1	0	0
Kobie McKinzie (Tr)	32	7	1	4	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Josh Fussell	29	1	0	9
Brenden Deasfernandes (Tr)	25	0	0	8
Robert Fitzgerald	106	6	1	4