Is Colorado bowl eligible? Buffaloes' playoff chances in 2024 explored

The Colorado Buffaloes won again with a decisive 41-27 win over Texas Tech in Week 11, sitting at the No. 20 spot in the CFP rankings. With this victory, they hold a 5-1 conference record and stand as the No. 2 team in the Big 12, trailing only BYU.

The program has shown remarkable improvement under coach Deion Sanders, transforming from a 4-8 team last year into a legitimate postseason contender this season.

Led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way player Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes have seen consistent play on both sides of the ball. Against Texas Tech, Sanders completed 30 of 43 passes, racking up 291 yards and four touchdowns, while Hunter posted one touchdown and nine receptions totaling 99 yards.

Colorado has already secured a bowl bid and now has the College Football Playoff on its radar.

Colorado's playoff chances in 2024

Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Big 12, No. 20 CFP) won its third consecutive game and is making its way to play in the Big 12 Championship Game with a chance to qualify for the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Buffaloes are well-positioned for a postseason run, with its 7-2 record and second-place status in the Big 12.

Its current conference record of 5-1 not only keeps it in the running for the Big 12 title, but also allows the team to control its own playoff destiny.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), the Buffaloes hold a 20% chance of winning the Big 12, just behind BYU and Iowa State. Colorado also has a 17.3% probability of making the College Football Playoff, depending largely on securing the Big 12 Championship and earning an automatic bid.

Under Deion Sanders’ leadership, Colorado has turned heads nationally, particularly with its progress. At 7-2, it has achieved bowl eligibility, ensuring its first bowl appearance since 2016 (excluding the COVID-affected 2020 season).

Colorado remaining schedule

Colorado’s remaining schedule includes three key games as they work to close out the regular season on a high note:

November 16 vs Utah (Week 12) - noon ET

November 23 at Kansas (Week 13) - TBD

November 29 vs Oklahoma State (Week 14) - 9 a.m. ET

Must-win games for Colorado

The upcoming matchups will be essential for Colorado’s bid to finish at 10-2 and possibly earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship.

After reaching bowl eligibility with a 34-23 victory over Cincinnati, the Buffaloes are focused on completing their season strong. The Cincinnati game saw Colorado secure their bowl eligibility with the help of timely field goals and a late turnover on downs.

With three regular-season games left, the Buffaloes need to secure victories in all remaining matchups to improve their 10-2 conference record, boosting their chances of a championship game appearance and possible CFP spot.

Details of the Week 12 clash between Colorado and Utah

In Week 12, Colorado faces Utah at home in Boulder:

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Time: noon ET

TV Channel: FOX

City: Boulder, Colorado

Venue: Folsom Field

Live Stream: Fubo

A win against Utah could solidify Colorado’s position as a top Big 12 team, bringing them closer to securing a playoff spot and setting the stage for an exciting postseason.