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.
Folsom Field: the view or the shade
Folsom Field asks you to choose. The east side looks toward the Flatirons, the slabs of rock southwest of the stadium that give Folsom its postcard backdrop, but it also faces the afternoon sun. The west side keeps the sun behind you and looks back toward the town. For the best football view on either side, aim between the 30-yard lines in the middle rows. Colorado plays at Folsom Field, on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, from the end of August or early September until late November, in a stadium of 50,183 seats.
- Scenery: east side, upper rows.
- Comfort on day games: west side.
- Value: the curved horseshoe end.
- Close to Ralphie: low rows on either sideline.
Sideline, horseshoe and altitude
Folsom is a horseshoe, and the field runs north to south. At 5,360 feet, it is the third-highest stadium in the FBS, and the altitude changes how a seat feels. Sun at a day game burns faster than at sea level, and after dark the temperature drops quickly, especially in November. Pick your side and your layers at the same time.
Sideline rows
The front rows sit behind the benches, which block part of the field. Mid-level rows between the 30s give the cleanest view. The upper rows add the widest look at the foothills.
The curved end
Because the end-zone seats bend around toward the field, they offer a better angle on red-zone plays than straight end zone stands do, at a lower price than the sideline.
Ralphie's path
Ralphie's run loops around the field in a horseshoe pattern before each half, so the lowest sideline rows get the closest look.
When Folsom sells out
- Nebraska: a Big Eight and Big 12 rivalry that went quiet after Colorado left for the Pac-12 in 2011 and returned in nonconference play starting in 2018. See Nebraska Cornhuskers Football.
- Colorado State: the Rocky Mountain Showdown, first played in 1893, with the Centennial Cup at stake. It was held in Denver for most years from 1998 to 2019 before moving back to campus sites. Colorado leads comfortably, and the next scheduled game is in Fort Collins in 2029.
- Utah: revived in the Pac-12 after a long gap and now a Big 12 game again. See Utah Utes Football.
- Big 12 headliners: ranked league opponents, homecoming and national night games drive the highest demand.
September games against smaller programs are the easiest to buy; ranked visitors can sell through fast.
Here comes Ralphie: a Boulder Saturday
The announcer's call, "Here comes Ralphie," starts Folsom's best-known tradition. Before each half, a crew of handlers, usually five on the field at once, runs the live bison around the field in a horseshoe with the team behind her. The handlers are student-athletes who earn varsity letters for the job. Live bison have run at Folsom since 1967; seven animals have carried the name, and Ralphie VII made her debut on September 20, 2025.
The altitude is the other thing to plan for. Drink water, wear sunscreen at day games and bring warm layers for night games. 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 travel. For more on the region, see Denver.
Getting CU tickets for the big ones
Season tickets are placed first, and the best sideline locations follow donations to the athletic department's donor program. Students draw from their own allotment. Single-game sales open after that and can sell out quickly for high-profile opponents.
When they do, resale is how most fans get into Folsom. Prices respond to the team's record, the opponent's ranking, the start time and the forecast; lower-demand games often ease close to kickoff, while marquee games climb. Every Reserved Seat order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
The 1990 title, two Heismans and the Dead
Colorado has played since 1890. It spent 1948 to 1995 in the Big Eight, helped launch the Big 12 in 1996, moved to the Pac-12 for 2011 through 2023 and came back to the Big 12 in 2024. The 1990 team finished 11–1–1, beat Notre Dame 10–9 in the Orange Bowl and was ranked first by the Associated Press and the Football Writers, sharing the title with Georgia Tech, the Coaches Poll champion. Running back Rashaan Salaam won the Heisman in 1994, and two-way player Travis Hunter won it in 2024. The colors are silver, black and gold, and the fight song is "Fight CU."
The stadium opened on October 11, 1924, as Colorado Stadium with 26,000 seats and took Fred Folsom's name in 1944. It peaked at 53,750 seats from 2003 to 2009, and the football record of 54,972 came against Colorado State in 2005. Natural grass gave way to FieldTurf starting in 2025. Folsom is also a notable concert stadium: the Grateful Dead played there in 1972 and 1980, Dead & Company played 13 shows between 2016 and 2023, and an estimated 61,500 attended a 1977 festival, the largest crowd in its history.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of Folsom Field has the Flatirons view?
The east side. Its seats face the Flatirons to the southwest, but they also face the afternoon sun on day games.
Are end zone seats at Folsom Field any good?
They are a fair value. Folsom is a horseshoe, so the end seats curve toward the field and give a decent angle on red-zone plays.
Where is the best spot to see Ralphie run?
Low rows on either sideline. Ralphie loops around the field in a horseshoe before each half.
How does the altitude in Boulder affect a game day?
At 5,360 feet the sun is stronger and nights get cold fast. Drink water, wear sunscreen at day games and bring layers after dark.
When do Colorado and Colorado State play next?
The next scheduled Rocky Mountain Showdown is in 2029 in Fort Collins.