Northwestern, Colorado Announce Two-Game Football Series
EVANSTON, Ill. — The Northwestern Wildcats and Colorado Buffaloes will meet for the first time in nearly 50 years when they play a home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027, the schools announced on Tuesday. Colorado will visit Ryan Field on September 19, 2026, and the Wildcats will make a return trip to Boulder’s Folsom Field on September 11, 2027.
Northwestern and Colorado have squared off only twice on the football field. The two squads last met on September 30, 1978, with the Buffaloes earning a win on their home field. The teams also faced off in Evanston on September 29, 1951, a 35-14 Wildcats victory.
Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald was a defensive graduate assistant at Colorado in 1999, two years before returning to the sidelines in Evanston. Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, now entering his tenth season wit the ‘Cats, enjoyed a successful 10-year run with Colorado from 1985-94, first coaching outside linebackers and punters, before being named defensive coordinator in 1988. He spent two more seasons as the Buffaloes’ defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2004 and 2005.
Northwestern’s 2017 campaign begins on Saturday, September 2, when the Wildcats welcome Nevada to Ryan Field at 2:30 p.m. Chicago’s Big Ten Team will then travel to Durham N.C., to face ACC foe Duke before returning home to take on Bowling Green (September 16, 6:30 p.m.). The ‘Cats will also welcome Big Ten Conference opponents Penn State, Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue and Minnesota to Evanston this fall.
Season tickets, the best way to guarantee the best seats in Ryan Field, and single-game tickets for Northwestern’s exciting seven-game home slate are on sale now by calling 888-GO-PURPLE (888-467-8775) or visiting NU’s online ticket sales center.