DENVER (KDVR) — The University of Colorado Buffaloes football team is getting the season rolling this week when they host the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field in Boulder.
The new season comes with new hope after a disappointing 4-8 2023 season that included only one in-conference win. But there’s change there too as the Buffs leave the Pac-12 for a return to the Big 12 this season.
How to watch North Dakota State vs. Colorado on TV
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Channel: ESPN
Kickoff between the Buffaloes and Bison takes place Thursday at 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Tickets for North Dakota State vs. Colorado
Tickets are still available for most of the stadium. Ticketmaster lists seats starting at $114 for seats in the 200 level of the south end zone to more than $1,500 for seats in section 2, which is the Touchdown Club in the north endzone.
SeatGeek has seats starting around the same price, $104 each for the south end zone, but they don’t have the same high-end options.
Boulder forecast for North Dakota State vs. Colorado
Thursday’s prime time game kicks off at 6 p.m. when temperatures will be right around 80 degrees with sunny skies, but temperatures will drop by about 10 degrees once the sun goes down.
Weather for University of Colorado Buffaloes game on Aug. 29, 2024 (KDVR)
By halftime, the temperature will dip into the low 70s and by the end of the game, the temperature will be around 66 degrees.
Key things to know for North Dakota State vs. Colorado
Colorado is one of four new teams in the Big 12 this season, and it may be the one that will attract the most attention of any newcomer not just because of their play — the Buffaloes won four games in their last season in the Pac-12 — but because of their high-profile coach. Deion Sanders is confident that they will vastly improve this season, and they have a chance to prove it right away against North Dakota State.
The Bison may play at the Football Championship Subdivision level, but they’ve won fewer than 11 games only once in the past 12 years. During that stretch, they’ve beaten Big 12 schools Kansas State and Iowa State along with No. 13 Iowa of the Big Ten.
“They’re good. They’re really darned good,” Sanders said recently, “and I’m mad at (athletic director) Rick (George) right now for putting them on the schedule, to open up with them. Like, can you give me a layup or something? Those guys are wonderful.”
The Bison played in five of the previous six FCS title games before losing in the semifinals last season.
“Their staff has always been amongst the best. Many people have matriculated from that staff to go to higher levels. Those kids play their butts off. They play tough. They don’t make many mistakes. They’re accustomed to winning,” Sanders said. “They don’t give a darned about being at home or on the road. That doesn’t faze them whatsoever.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
