Colorado visits Northwestern on Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET, a Big 12 against Big Ten matchup in Evanston between two unbeaten teams that have taken very different routes to get there.
Odds and Spread
Betting lines for this game are not posted yet. This table fills in automatically once books release them.
Both teams are undefeated and neither has a signature win, so this is one of the harder games on the board to price. Colorado has played two games to Northwestern’s one, which gives the market a little more to work with on the visitor. Check your book before kickoff.
Start Time, TV Channel and How to Watch
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT |
| TV | FOX |
| Streaming | Fox One and the FOX Sports app with a TV provider login once the window is assigned, or Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Sling Blue |
| Rankings | Both teams unranked |
| Stadium | Martin Stadium, Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern plays its first two home games at this temporary venue and opens the new Ryan Field on October 2 |
How Both Teams Got Here
Colorado is 2-0. The Buffaloes won 14-13 at Georgia Tech in the opener, a one point road win over an ACC team, then beat Weber State 52-21. The Georgia Tech result is the better one by a wide margin.
Northwestern is 1-0 and has played just once, beating South Dakota State 34-18 at home. An open date since means the Wildcats come in rested with almost no film for anyone to study.
What to Watch
The rest advantage. Northwestern has not played since September 5 while Colorado has played twice, and a two week gap this early usually favors the team taking it. The flip side is rust, and the Wildcats have exactly one game of rhythm to draw on.
Colorado’s two results do not line up neatly. Scoring 14 points at Georgia Tech and 52 against an FCS opponent leaves the offense unproven against a real defense, and Northwestern is the first Big Ten team the Buffaloes have seen. Whichever side wins the early downs in what should be a low scoring first half probably wins the game.
Related
Colorado football score · Big 12 standings · Big Ten standings · College football scores · AP Top 25
The Bottom Line
Colorado at Northwestern kicks off Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX from Martin Stadium in Evanston, Northwestern’s temporary home. Colorado is 2-0 with a one point win at Georgia Tech; Northwestern is 1-0 and has not played in two weeks.