Colorado Buffaloes

Colorado Buffaloes
UniversityUniversity of Colorado Boulder
NCAADivision I (FBS)
ConferenceBig 12 (primary)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field)
Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (skiing)
Athletic directorFernando Lovo
LocationBoulder, Colorado
Varsity teams16
Football stadiumFolsom Field
Basketball arenaCU Events Center
Soccer stadiumPrentup Field
NicknameBuffaloes
ColorsSilver, black, and gold
     
MascotRalphie - (live bison)
Chip - (costumed mascot)
Fight songFight CU
Websitecubuffs.com

The Colorado Buffaloes are the athletic teams that represent the University of Colorado Boulder. The university sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both the men's and women's teams are called the Buffaloes (Buffs for short) or, rarely, the Golden Buffaloes. "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993. The nickname was selected by the campus newspaper in a contest with a $5 prize in 1934 won by Andrew Dickson of Boulder.

The university participates as a member of the Big 12 Conference at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Fernando Lovo was announced as the seventh athletic director in the program's history on December 29, 2025, following the resignation of Rick George. Colorado has won 30 national championships in its history, with 21 in skiing, the most recent coming in 2024. It was ranked #14 of "America's Best Sports College" in a 2002 analysis performed by Sports Illustrated.