• Loading stock data...
Thursday, January 22, 2026

Boulder Ready For Take Two As College Football’s Hollywood

  • Boulder, Colorado is the epicenter of college football this weekend.
  • ESPN’s “College GameDay” and Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” will both broadcast from town.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Less than a month into the season, the hottest town in college football is Boulder, Colorado.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders delivered big in his home debut against Nebraska and has started off the season 2-0 — and this weekend, everybody wants a piece of his Buffaloes.

ESPN will broadcast Colorado-Colorado State at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, in the process bringing “College GameDay” to Boulder for the first time since 1996. The hype is so big right now that Fox Sports is bringing its rival “Big Noon Kickoff” pregame show to town for the second weekend in a row despite not having broadcast rights to the game this time around.

And the mania doesn’t stop there. ESPN is broadcasting “First Take” and “The Pat McAfee Show” live from Boulder on Friday, while even venerable CBS newsmagazine program “60 Minutes” is rumored to be coming to Boulder.

Tougher Foes Ahead

Saturday will be another milestone moment for the Coach Prime era, but likely not the last — No. 18 Colorado is favored to win by at least three touchdowns and could rise higher in the AP Top 25 rankings.

Next week will bring a high-profile matchup at No. 13 Oregon before Colorado welcomes Heisman Trophy front-runner Caleb Williams and No. 5 USC to Boulder on Sept. 30. The average secondary-market ticket price for Colorado home games for the remainder of the season is now a staggering $517.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Molly Qerim Hosting Zuffa Boxing in First Post-ESPN Job

The move reunites her with former ESPN colleague Max Kellerman.

CFP Title Game Draws 30.1M Viewers, Most-Watched Since 2015

Viewership surges 36% for the Hoosiers’ win to seal an undefeated season.

Australian Open Fans Struggle With ESPN’s Tiered Streaming

Watching all the matches online requires the highest tier of ESPN’s service.

NFL Playoff Ratings Surge As NBC, ESPN Set Network Records

Both NBC and ESPN set network records with their Sunday playoff games.

Featured Today

Sports Goes All In on Non-Alcoholic Drinks Boom

Athletes, teams, and leagues are pouring money into the NA beverage category.
Tulsa Portal House
January 16, 2026

Inside the Tulsa Portal House: ‘This Will Translate to Wins’

The Golden Hurricane set up an over-the-top battle station for football recruiting.
Black Rabbit
January 10, 2026

The Netflix Star Who Makes Sure NBA Players Have Clean Towels

How a Nets staffer landed a breakout role on “Black Rabbit.”
January 9, 2026

NHL Ditched Its Dress Code. Hockey’s Fashion Era Arrived Quickly

With no dress code, impeccably dressed players are seeing big-money deals.
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; NCAA president Charlie Baker looks on during halftime between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

NCAA President Charlie Baker Is a Twitter Reply Guy

In between serious posts, Baker shares his favorite movies, athletes, and more.
Billionaire Mark Cuban, an Indiana alum and NIL donor, with quarterback Fernando Mendoza after the Hoosiers won their first CFP national championship.
January 21, 2026

Mark Cuban Likes the College Sports Salary Cap: ‘It Protects Us’

In an FOS interview, Cuban likened the rules to the NBA cap.
January 21, 2026

Judge Says Ex-Alabama Player Can Rejoin Team After 3 Years in Pros

The ruling could ultimately deal another blow to NCAA eligibility rules.
Sponsored

ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025: Inside the Technology Shaping the Future of..

At ESPN Edge Innovation Conference 2025, ESPN showcased how AI, immersive tech, and a rebuilt direct-to-consumer platform are redefining the future of sports media.
Dec 6, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah (10) celebrates after the Blue Devils score a touchdown in overtime during the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.
January 20, 2026

Duke Sues Darian Mensah After QB Enters Portal

He announced his decision on the last day of the portal window.
Zheng
January 20, 2026

NCAA Rules Might Block Columbia Tennis Star From $150K at Australian Open

Zheng is set to graduate from Columbia in the spring.
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes into the end zone for a touchdown Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
January 20, 2026

CFP Faces 3 Big Questions About Its Future

The CFP could still expand to 16 teams in 2026.
Mark Cuban shakes hands with D.J. Khaled on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, ahead of the College Football Playoff Championship game at HardRock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
January 20, 2026

College Football’s Billionaire Era Is Officially Here

Mark Cuban helped Indiana make history in the rev-share and NIL era.