A look at what lies ahead for the 2008 Buffs in one of the more difficult schedules in recent CU history. All rankings are from the Associated Press Top 25.

Aug. 31, vs. Colorado St.,

Invesco Field, Denver

This is the ninth meeting in Denver and if dwindling attendance in 2007 is any indication (68,133), it might be time to move this scrum back to campus, or at least to Boulder in years when the Buffs are the home team. CU will be a double-digit favorite and has won four of the past five in the series. The Rams are in rebuilding mode but this is always an emotional battle and it will be televised nationally. Darrell Scott debuts and attempts to spoil the start of CSU coach Steve Fairchild's tenure.

Sept. 6, vs. Eastern Wash.,

Folsom Field

This is the first meeting between the programs and just the second time the Buffs have played a team from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). The Eagles are not to be taken lightly. They finished 9-4 last season and lost in the national quarterfinals 38-35 to three-time defending national champion Appalachian State. Maybe you heard of them and their win at Michigan last season? There are still fresh wounds from the Buffs' 2006 loss to Montana State. Could they be surprised again?

Sept. 18, vs. No. 8 West

Virginia, Folsom Field

The Buffs have a chance for a benchmark win on national TV in a rare weeknight contest on a Thursday. The Mountaineers finished 11-2 last year, including a Fiesta Bowl victory over Big 12 champion Oklahoma. First-year coach Bill Stewart has perennial Heisman Trophy candidate and four-year starting quarterback Pat White running his offense. White alone makes WVU tough. The Mountaineers are loaded with speed, strength and talent on par with anyone in the Big 12. But this team also lost a lot of players to graduation, suspension and the NFL and two-thirds of the coaching staff changed when Rich Rodriguez bolted for Michigan.

Sept. 27, vs. Florida St.,

Municipal Stadium,

Jacksonville, Fla.

When the Seminoles visited Boulder last season and escaped with a 16-6 victory, the Buffs felt like they allowed a win to slip away. It had a direct effect on their upset of then-No. 3 Oklahoma two weeks later. CU hasn't won east of the Mississippi River since former coach Rick Neuheisel's debut in the first game of the 1995 season at Wisconsin. The Buffs are going to feel like they can compete for a change because of last year and it's not a true home game for the Seminoles. It is a homecoming of sorts for Scott and wide receiver Josh Smith who grew up down the road in Tallahassee.

Oct. 4, vs. No. 11 Texas,

Folsom Field (Homecoming)

The last time these programs met, the Longhorns spanked the Buffs 70-3 in the 2005 Big 12 championship game. Part of the aftermath of that game was the firing of Gary Barnett and the hiring of Dan Hawkins. CU folks also charged that Mack Brown kept blitzing late in the game and it led to former quarterback Joel Klatt suffering a serious concussion. There is some lingering animosity, at least between the fans of these teams if not the teams themselves, over the recruitment of Scott. Some in Texas accused CU of cheating to get the talented tailback. The Longhorns could be a top-five team by this point.

Oct. 11, at No. 14 Kansas,

Memorial Stadium

This is another opponent the Buffs feel they let off the hook last season in Boulder. CU turned the ball over three times, including once in the red zone, in the 19-14 loss. Kansas has a few holes to fill this year after losing some key members of last season's 12-1 Orange Bowl team, but the Jayhawks will be tough. KU quarterback Todd Reesing has killed the Buffs the past two years in a pair of five-point victories. The Buffs haven't had an answer for his scrambling ability.

Oct. 18, vs. Kansas State,

Folsom Field

The coaches of these programs entered the Big 12 together in 2006, but Dan Hawkins hasn't come close to beating Ron Prince yet. The Wildcats have beaten the Buffs by double digits the past two seasons. Prince signed a recruiting class in February that included 19 junior college players in an effort to add some experience to the roster. The plan could be a stroke of genius or a giant misstep and we should have a pretty good idea of which by the time this one arrives. KSU quarterback Josh Freeman is extremely talented and told reporters this summer he believes he is the best signal-caller in the Big 12. It should be pretty clear by mid-October whether he's coming through on the claim or if he's all talk.

Oct. 25, at No. 6 Missouri,

Faurot Field

The past three editions of this old Big Eight Conference rivalry have ended in blowouts, including a 55-10 loss for the Buffs last season that revealed just how far they have to go to catch up to the Tigers. Mizzou is loaded with talent once again with two preseason Heisman candidates in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin. The Tigers are a national championship caliber team and the defense might be their strength with 10 returning starters. The Buffs should close some of the gap on last year's margin of victory, but they might be a year away from beating this team.

Nov. 1, at Texas A&M,

Kyle Field

Week 8 brings the Buffs to one of the best venues in the nation in which to watch a college football game. There is nothing picturesque about Kyle Field or College Station, but there are few places that compare with this intense environment. When 82,600 Aggie fans lock arms and sway, the stadium moves with them. New A&M coach Mike Sherman should have a good feel for his team by this point. Senior quarterback Stephen McGee is another dual-threat in his third year as the starter. In a league filled with passing offenses, this might be the best rushing offense with tailback Mike Goodson and bruiser Jorvorskie Lane. The Buffs lost in overtime here in 2004.

Nov. 8, vs. Iowa State,

Folsom Field

This looks like the light at the end of the tunnel following a brutal seven-week stretch. The third and final installment of the "One that got away" in 2007. Losing at Iowa State after holding a 21-0 lead at halftime, might have been the worst loss of last season. The Buffs are going to want some redemption. The Cyclones finished 3-9 in coach Gene Chizik's first season a year ago. The Cyclones have won in Boulder just once since 1982.

Nov. 15, vs. Oklahoma St.,

Folsom Field

CU allowed OSU to nab former Chatfield High School quarterback Zac Robinson out from under it three years ago and Robinson is showing star power in Stillwater, Okla. He leads the Cowboys into Boulder for a contest that could be pivotal to both team's bowl hopes. This is the first time Dan Hawkins and 41-year-old OSU coach Mike Gundy square off. Both attracted plenty of attention in 2007 for "rants." The Cowboys problem in recent years has been an inability to stop most teams from scoring. If they make serious improvements defensively this season, they could be nationally ranked by this point.

Nov. 28, at Nebraska,

Memorial Stadium

The first meeting between these programs occurred 110 years ago, but the rivalry hasn't always come on the day-after Thanksgiving. The Buffs have sent the Cornhuskers home for the holidays without a bowl trip in two of the past three meetings. One team could have the opportunity to keep the other team out of the postseason again this year. New Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is hoping to shore up a defense that was torched to historic proportions in 2007. The Cornhuskers won't forget a 65-51 loss in Boulder last year in which they had the Buffs on the ropes before an inexplicable second-half collapse.