Deion Sanders certainly won’t be easing into his tenure as Colorado’s head football coach.
The Pac-12 released the 2023 football schedule on Wednesday morning, including Sanders and the Buffaloes opening conference play with back-to-back games against two of the best in the country.
CU’s non-conference schedule has been set since 2017, but Wednesday’s announcement mapped out the entire slate.
The Buffs open the season with three consecutive non-conference games, including the Sept. 2 opener against national runner-up TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. That’s followed by back-to-back home games against rivals Nebraska (Sept. 9) and Colorado State (Sept. 16).
Sanders’ first Pac-12 game will be on Sept. 23 at Oregon, which finished No. 15 in the final Associated Press rankings and will likely be a top-15 team going into next season.
A week later, the Buffs will host USC, which finished this year at No. 12 and returns Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. The Trojans, like Oregon, will likely be a top-15 team going into next season.
CU’s conference schedule also includes home games against Stanford, Oregon State and Arizona and road games at Arizona State, UCLA, Washington State and Utah.
A Nov. 4 date with Oregon State will be the Buffs’ homecoming game.
The Buffs will have two Friday games, on Oct. 13 at home against Stanford and on Nov. 17 at Washington State.
CU will wrap up the regular season with two road games, at Washington State and Utah.
“We’re excited about the home schedule we’ve put together for both the start of the Coach Prime era and the 100th season at Folsom Field,” CU athletic director Rick George said in a CU press release. “Having both Nebraska and Colorado State at home for the first time in 18 years, the final game against USC for the foreseeable future and Family Weekend, Homecoming and Senior Day games set, 2023 is shaping up to be one of our most exciting home schedules in a long time.”
Game times and TV assignments will be announced at a later date. The non-conference kickoff times and TV selections will be announced in June, while the conference times and TV assignments will be announced either six or 12 days before each game.
Last year’s season ticket holders have until Feb. 2 to renew for this year.
Colorado’s 2023 football schedule
Sept. 2 – at TCU
Sept. 9 – Nebraska
Sept. 16 – Colo. St.
Sept. 23 – at Oregon
Sept. 30 – USC
Oct. 7 – at ASU
Oct. 13 – Stanford (Fri.)
Oct. 28 – at UCLA
Nov. 4 – Oregon St
Nov. 11 – Arizona
Nov. 17 – at Wash St. (Fri.)
Nov. 25 – at Utah
