The Colorado Buffaloes football team won’t get a shot at playing in Northwestern’s newly renovated Ryan Field this season. Instead, their anticipated matchup on September 19, 2026, will be held at the temporary Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
This change comes as Northwestern keeps working on its extensive Ryan Field renovations. The new stadium is set to be unveiled on October 2, 2026, marking 100 years since the original stadium’s first game.
Northwestern’s Stadium Renovation and Temporary Home
Northwestern University has been busy renovating its historic Ryan Field, which has been home to the Wildcats since 1926. The new stadium will seat 35,000 and is scheduled to open with a game against Penn State on October 2, 2026.
That opening date isn’t random—it’s exactly a century after the first football game played there. A little poetic, honestly.
Temporary Venue: Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium
While renovations are underway, Northwestern football games have shifted to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. This place is much smaller, with a capacity of just 12,023.
Martin Stadium has mostly hosted Northwestern’s soccer and lacrosse teams since 1997. The smaller size is going to make tickets for the Colorado game pretty hard to come by.
For more details, the full article’s up on the Daily Camera website.
Implications for Colorado Buffaloes Fans
This venue change for the September 19 game definitely affects Buffaloes fans. With Martin Stadium’s reduced capacity, there just won’t be as many tickets available for CU fans.
BuffZone reports that Colorado and Northwestern are still working out exactly how many tickets CU fans will get. No final numbers yet, but it’s safe to say there’ll be a scramble.
Upcoming Season Opener
The Buffaloes kick off their 2026 season on September 5, facing Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. After that, they’ll host Weber State at Folsom Field in Boulder on September 12.
Then it’s off to Evanston for their last nonconference game against Northwestern. Not the most convenient travel, but that’s college football for you.
Coaching Changes in the Colorado Buffaloes Camp
It’s not just venues that are changing. The Buffaloes are also seeing some shifts in their coaching staff.
Defensive line coach Domata Peko is leaving after just one season. Reports say he’s headed to the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers to coach their defensive line.
Domata Peko’s Departure
Peko, who played 15 years in the NFL, was brought in by CU head coach Deion Sanders to lead the defensive line. Before joining CU, he started his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
In a video from Well Off Media, Peko said his goodbyes to the players, thanking both the coaching staff and the team. He seemed genuinely grateful for the short time he spent in Boulder.
His departure is especially interesting because his sons, Domata Jr. and Joseph, recently joined the Buffaloes. Domata Jr. is a junior defensive end from Ventura Junior College, and Joseph is a true freshman defensive lineman.
That’s got to be a bittersweet twist for the family.
For more info and the latest updates on the Colorado Buffaloes and their upcoming games, keep an eye on this blog or check out the Daily Camera website.
Conclusion
The Colorado Buffaloes will play at Northwestern Medicine Field instead of the renovated Ryan Field in 2026. That’s a twist I didn’t see coming for their season.
Sure, the smaller venue could make it tougher for fans to get in. Still, it feels like a pretty big moment in Northwestern’s football story.
The Buffaloes are also dealing with coaching changes. That could shake things up as they get ready for their opener against Georgia Tech.
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