Colorado vs Houston 2026: Friday Kickoff, ESPN and Preview
Colorado hosts Houston on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Get the 8:15 p.m. Mountain kickoff, ESPN coverage and Folsom Field matchup facts.
Colorado vs Houston 2026: Friday Kickoff, ESPN and Preview
Colorado hosts Houston in a Friday-night Big 12 football game on November 13, 2026. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Mountain (10:15 p.m. Eastern), and ESPN has the U.S. television assignment. This is one of the Buffaloes' clearer upcoming broadcast listings, with a confirmed date, network and home stadium.
At a glance
| Item | Verified information |
| Date | Friday, November 13, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 8:15 p.m. MT / 10:15 p.m. ET |
| Stadium | Folsom Field, Boulder |
| TV | ESPN |
Why this is a Friday game
Colorado's athletics department announced that the Houston visit was moved to Friday, November 13, from a prior Saturday date. The change also moved Colorado's Homecoming observance to the October 3 Texas Tech game, so an old promotional calendar can be wrong on both counts. This matchup takes place at Folsom Field in Boulder and is not scheduled as a neutral-site event.
An 8:15 p.m. Mountain start translates to 9:15 p.m. Central or 10:15 p.m. Eastern. Converting the time is especially important for visitors who find a national schedule written in the East Coast's time zone. The date remains Friday, November 13 in the United States.
Colorado’s challenge entering November
As of its last confirmed game on October 24, Colorado was 2–5 and had lost five straight. Its 24–27 defeat to Utah was tight, while the 24–57 loss at Oklahoma State was not. Those are useful markers of inconsistency, but the next two games—Kansas State and Arizona State—take place before Houston and can materially change the Buffs' record.
A strong preview should therefore update team form closer to the game rather than recycling October numbers as if nothing happened in November. The same rule applies to Houston: its actual record and injury information must come from current team releases, not from offseason expectations.
How to evaluate the Friday matchup
Houston's visit creates a useful comparison between possession football and explosive gains. Look at whether Colorado can keep its offense out of long-yardage third downs and whether the Buffaloes can limit yards after contact. When the official game book is available, turnover margin and points per red-zone opportunity will help explain the outcome.
A Friday broadcast can increase national visibility, but the listing does not prove a sold-out crowd or predict a breakthrough performance. Avoid adding live player statistics until the game center publishes them. If a kickoff adjustment occurs, the athletic department and conference should be the source of the revised timing.
ESPN access and the right page
ESPN is the licensed network named in Colorado's release. The exact way a viewer gets ESPN depends on their subscription and region; avoid suggesting unauthorized streams. The Houston meeting sits between Colorado’s Arizona State and Cincinnati fixtures, making the Friday date especially easy to misread.
Once the game is complete, the official box score will show the result and its effect on the Big 12 standings. Readers should distinguish that eventual final from the October games described here.
What the schedule switch means for fans
The move to Friday also affects tickets, travel and the calendar around the game. Readers using an older November 14 announcement may appear a full day late. The confirmed event is Friday, November 13 in Boulder, and the Mountain Time kickoff occurs late enough that many East Coast viewers will be watching after 10 p.m.
Houston is not Colorado’s Homecoming opponent under the updated schedule. Colorado athletics moved that designation to Texas Tech on October 3. This detail is worth checking before making travel plans or buying a package advertised with a stale event description.
Frequently asked questions
When is Colorado vs Houston?
Friday, November 13, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. Mountain.
What channel is Colorado vs Houston on?
ESPN is the announced U.S. television network.
Where is the game?
Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.