Colorado Buffaloes
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.
| Colorado Buffaloes | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Colorado Boulder |
| Conference | Pac-12 (primary) Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field) Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (skiing) |
| NCAA | Division I (FBS) |
| Athletic director | Rick George |
| Location | Boulder, Colorado |
| Varsity teams | 16 |
| Football stadium | Folsom Field |
| Basketball arena | CU Events Center |
| Soccer stadium | Prentup Field |
| Mascot | Ralphie - (live bison) Chip - (costumed mascot) |
| Nickname | Buffaloes |
| Fight song | Fight CU |
| Colors | Silver, black, and gold |
| Website | www |
The university participates as a member of the Pac-12 Conference (Big 12 Conference beginning July 1, 2024) at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Rick George was announced as the sixth athletic director in program history on July 17, 2013, following the resignation of Mike Bohn, and after an interim appointment by former Women's Basketball Head Coach former deputy athletic director Ceal Barry. Colorado has won 29 national championships in its history, with 20 in skiing, the most recent coming in 2015. It was ranked #14 of "America's Best Sports College" in a 2002 analysis performed by Sports Illustrated.
Colorado does not have intercollegiate men's programs in baseball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse, or volleyball. There is no women's softball program, one of three Pac-12 members without.