Full Breakdown
Colorado Buffs Ranked 14th in Rothstein’s Big 12 Preseason Power Rankings
7/23/2026, 1:52:33 PM
Core Event
- On March 3, 2026, college-basketball analyst Jon Rothstein placed Colorado at No. 14 out of 16 in his Big 12 preseason power rankings. The only teams below the Buffs are Kansas State and Utah.
Background & Context
- Colorado returned to the Big 12 for the 2024-25 season after more than a decade in the Pac-12. The conference is widely regarded as the nation’s strongest league.
- The Buffs have missed the NCAA Tournament for two straight seasons; their last appearance was in 2023-24 while still a Pac-12 member.
- In 2025-26 Colorado posted a 17-16 overall record and a 7-11 conference record, tying for 11th place with Arizona State. The prior season (2024-25) they were 14-21 overall and 3-17 in conference, finishing alone in last place.
Coaching Stability
- Head coach Tad Boyle enters his 17th season at Colorado. Since taking over in 2010, Boyle has compiled a 329-220 record and guided the program to six NCAA Tournament berths.
Roster Turnover
- Three of Colorado’s four leading scorers from 2025-26 entered the transfer portal: guard Isaiah Johnson (now at Texas), forward Sebastian Rancik (now at Florida State), and forward Bangot Dak (now at Vanderbilt).
- Colorado added three three-star transfers, all rated by 247Sports:
- David Gomez, formerly of the Charlotte 49ers, averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
- Noah Feddersen, from North Dakota State, posted 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
- Justin Neely, a former UNC Greensboro standout, led his team with 17.9 points per game.
- Returning guard Barrington Hargress leads the roster with 14.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the prior season.
Outlook for 2026-27
- The combination of experienced returner Hargress and the incoming transfers gives Colorado a chance to improve on its recent bottom-of-the-league finishes.
- Rothstein’s ranking suggests the Buffs remain near the conference’s lower tier, but the roster changes could enable a climb beyond the 14th spot.
Timeline
- March 3, 2026 – Jon Rothstein releases Big 12 preseason power rankings, placing Colorado No. 14.
- March 7, 2026 – Forward Bangot Dak appears in a game against Arizona, his final season with Colorado before transferring to Vanderbilt.
Data & Statistics
- 2025-26 overall record: 17-16; conference record: 7-11 (tied 11th).
- 2024-25 overall record: 14-21; conference record: 3-17 (last place).
- Coach Tad Boyle’s career record at Colorado: 329-220; NCAA Tournament appearances: six.
- Transfer departures: Johnson (Texas), Rancik (Florida State), Dak (Vanderbilt).
- Incoming transfers’ prior-season averages: Gomez 5.0 pts/3.5 reb, Feddersen 9.3 pts/5.0 reb, Neely 17.9 pts.
Why It Matters
- Colorado’s performance will influence the Big 12’s competitive balance and could affect the conference’s NCAA Tournament representation, which has averaged at least seven Big 12 teams in the last four tournaments.
