Deion Sanders begins his second season as the Colorado football coach on Thursday night.
A national TV audience (ESPN) will be fixated on the Buffaloes as they host perennial FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. The Bison have won nine NCAA Division I FCS national championships and exactly 90% of their games (172-19) since 2011.
Here's a look at everything to know about Thursday's game at Folsom Field:
What time does Colorado football vs NDSU football begin?
- Date: Thursday, Aug. 29
- Kickoff time: 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT
More: NDSU football assistant coach finds preparing for Colorado to be 'super challenging'
How can you listen to the game on the radio?
- ESPN will broadcast the game with Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich on the call.
- Mark Johnson, Gary Barnett and Tyler Polumbus will be on Colorado football radio network.
- 850 AM KOA Denver
- SiriusXM 162 or 199/SXM App 960
What's the betting line for Colorado football vs NDSU?
Colorado is a 9.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook . The over/under is at 59.5 total points.
More: What Deion Sanders said about Colorado football's Week 1 matchup vs NDSU
Where is NDSU football in preseason FCS rankings?
The Bison are ranked No. 2 in the FCS coaches poll to start the 2024 college football season.
What are the records?
Both teams are playing their first game of the season. Colorado went 4-8 in 2023, losing seven of its last eight games after a 3-0 start. NDSU went 11-4 and lost in the FCS playoff semifinals.
Who are the coaches?
Colorado is led by Deion Sanders, who is in his second season as head coach of the Buffs after three seasons at Jackson State. He's 31-14 as a head coach in his career. Tim Polasek is in his first season as head coach of the Bison. The former Wyoming offensive coordinator (2021-23) is NDSU's first offensive-minded head coach in 20-plus years.
More: What Colorado football's coordinators said about Week 1 matchup vs NDSU
What's the weather like in Boulder?
Thursday's high is expected to be 82 degrees with a low of 55 degrees. "A mostly clear sky. Low near 55 degrees. Winds light and variable," according to The Weather Channel.
Stadium information
The game will be at Folsom Field in Boulder. Capacity is 50,183.
What's the series history?
This is the first meeting between Colorado and NDSU on the gridiron.
Colorado vs NDSU football prediction
Not only will NDSU be playing up a level of competition and on the road in a hostile environment, but the Bison will also be without their best defensive player : All-American safety Cole Wisniewski. That's a massive blow to a team that will have two interior offensive linemen making their first career college start (guard Griffin Empey and center Trent Fraley).
More: NDSU football coach: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders is 'the best player' Bison have seen yet
Meanwhile, the Buffs have revamped their offensive line , added impactful transfers to their defense and have arguably the best quarterback in college football on their side. As long as Colorado doesn't allow NDSU's quarterback running game to control the clock, the Buffs should have plenty of offensive firepower to begin the 2024 season with a comfortable victory.
Colorado wins 38-17.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes sports reporter Scott Procter on X .
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about Colorado football vs NDSU: Prediction for Week 1 matchup
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