Picking Colorado's football schedule by NCAA Academic Progress Rate and U.S. News ranking
The difficulty of Colorado's 2025 football schedule is well documented. We've outlined that the Buffaloes own the Big 12's toughest conference schedule and one of the most challenging overall.
The team hosts Big 12 title contenders BYU, Iowa State, and Arizona State, and also travels to face a couple more in TCU and Kansas State. Not to mention traveling to a likely top 25 program in Utah.
Many, including myself, think that Colorado would do exceptionally well to get to the six-win bowl eligibility mark, and anything more would be a huge surprise. Repeating the nine-win season seems like an unlikely scenario.
Unrelated to football, how does Colorado football compare to its 2025 opponents academically?
In the last few weeks, we've outlined Colorado's place in the Big 12 in both the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate and the latest U.S News & World Report rankings. Those placements: No. 14 (961) and No. 2 (No. 98 nationally), respectively.
We went through each game on Colorado's 2025 schedule, comparing both academic rankings. How would the Buffaloes fare if games were decided in the classroom and not on the field?
Week 1 vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Academic Progress Rate: 969
U.S. News Ranking: No. 33
Georgia Tech is the top academic school that Colorado faces all season. The Yellow Jackets are the only school on the Buffaloes' schedule within the top 50 of the U.S. News rankings. Georgia Tech's APR does not blow Colorado out of the water, but Colorado being ranked No. 98 in the U.S. News rankings is a far cry from a top-40 ranking. On the field, this game should be a close one, but according to SP+, the Yellow Jackets might still have a slight edge.
Week 2 vs. Delaware Blue Hens
Academic Progress Rate: 970
U.S. News Ranking: No. 86
Delaware is moving up to the FBS this year and will compete in Conference USA. However, the Blue Hens' academics were already on par with many FBS institutions. Delaware beats Colorado in both academic categories, but on the field, the Buffaloes should handle the newly promoted program with ease.
Week 3 at Houston Cougars
Academic Progress Rate: 940
U.S. News Ranking: No. 144
Colorado needs to go 3-0 to open the year to have a legitimate chance at bowl eligibility. The Cougars are one of the Buffs' easier conference opponents based on SP+, so a win on the field should not be much of an issue. Off the field, Colorado also reigns supreme in APR and U.S. News rankings.
Week 4 vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Academic Progress Rate: 976
U.S. News Ranking: No. 220
You can make the argument that Colorado going 4-0 to open the year is not out of the realm of possibilities. Unfortunately for Colorado, the easy games are all at the beginning of the season.
Week 5 vs. BYU Cougars
Academic Progress Rate: 954
U.S. News Ranking: No. 109
The gauntlet of Colorado's schedule starts Week 5 against BYU. Beating the Cougars will be a tall task, and the Buffs might hope the game was decided in the classroom as they own a better mark in both academic categories.
Week 6 at TCU Horned Frogs
Academic Progress Rate: 963
U.S. News Ranking: No. 105
TCU is another challenging opponent for the Buffs and, by far, their most daunting road test to date this season. Although the Horned Frogs have a slightly better APR, Colorado is superior in the U.S. News ranking. Colorado fans hope the on-field matchup is just as close.
Week 7 vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Academic Progress Rate: 991
U.S. News Ranking: No. 121
Another difficult opponent and another split in the two academic categories. Colorado ranks higher in the U.S. News ranking, while Iowa State owns a far superior APR. The Cyclones are one of the top teams in the Big 12, and although academically the Buffs might stand a chance, the on-field matchup will be a challenge.
Week 9 at Utah Utes
Academic Progress Rate: 984
U.S. News Ranking: No. 136
Utah edges Colorado in APR while the Buffs hold the better U.S. News ranking. After a bye week, the Buffs should be well-rested for arguably their most pivotal game of the season. If the Buffs want bowl eligibility, a win against the Utes would go a long way.
Week 10 vs. Arizona Wildcats
Academic Progress Rate: 969
U.S. News Ranking: No. 109
The easiest conference game of the year for Colorado, according to SP+. CU should have little trouble knocking off the Wildcats. APR goes the way of Arizona only slightly, while Colorado owns the better U.S. News ranking.
Week 11 at West Virginia Mountaineers
Academic Progress Rate: 980
U.S. News Ranking: No. 220
After several grueling matchups with the Big 12 elite, Colorado gets back-to-back winnable conference matchups. The Buffs can't afford to slip up against any inferior opponents, and West Virginia is one of them. APR goes the way of the Mountaineers while the Buffaloes hold the edge in the U.S. News rankings.
Week 13 vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Academic Progress Rate: 973
U.S. News Ranking: No. 121
Colorado's season wraps up with its two most challenging games of the season against the Big 12's top two teams based on SP+. ASU edges Colorado in APR, but the Buffs make up for that with a better U.S. News ranking.
Week 14 at Kansas State Wildcats
Academic Progress Rate: 990
U.S. News Ranking: No. 165
Kansas State owns one of the top APRs in the Big 12 and one of the conference's top offenses. It will be a tall task to take down the Wildcats on the road to close out the season in a game that could seal Kansas State's College Football Playoff berth.
In summary, the Buffaloes would have mixed results if games were decided in the classroom. They beat 10 of their 12 opponents in the latest U.S. News rankings, but only two of 12 in NCAA APR. We'll now see how the on-field product compares to that projection.
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