The Colorado Buffaloes football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Colorado Buffaloes football program in various categories,[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] including passing , rushing , receiving , total offense , defensive stats, and kicking . Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Buffaloes represent the University of Colorado Boulder in the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference .
Although Colorado began competing in intercollegiate football in 1890,[ 3] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in the 1930s. Records prior to this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since the 1930s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[ 4] The Buffaloes have played in six bowl games since then, allowing players in those seasons an extra game to accumulate statistics. However, Colorado record books before 2024 did not include bowl games from any season in any category of career statistics.[ 2] Even in 2024, only passing, rushing, and total offense leaderboards incorporate bowl game statistics.[ 1] Similarly, the Buffaloes have appeared in the Big 12 Championship Game four times and the Pac-12 Championship Game once, giving players yet another game to accumulate stats. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against any football player's athletic eligibility, giving all players active in that season the opportunity for five years of play instead of the normal four. These lists are updated through the end of the 2024 season . Players expected to be active for Colorado in 2025 are in bold .
Passing
Passing yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Sefo Liufau 9,763[ 5] 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 Steven Montez 9,710 2016 2017 2018 2019 3 Cody Hawkins 7,731 2007 2008 2009 2010 4 Joel Klatt 7,708 2002 2003 2004 2005 5 Shedeur Sanders 7,364[ 6] 2023 2024 6 Kordell Stewart 6,481 1991 1992 1993 1994 7 Tyler Hansen 5,705 2008 2009 2010 2011 8 Koy Detmer 5,390 1992 1994 1995 1996 9 Mike Moschetti 4,797 1998 1999 10 John Hessler 4,788 1994 1995 1996 1997
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Shedeur Sanders 4,134[ 6] 2024 2 Koy Detmer 3,527 1996 3 Shedeur Sanders 3,230[ 6] 2023 4 Sefo Liufau 3,200 2014 5 Cody Hawkins 3,015 2007 6 Steven Montez 2,975 2017 7 Tyler Hansen 2,883 2011 8 Steven Montez 2,849 2018 9 Steven Montez 2,808 2019 10 Joel Klatt 2,696 2005
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Eric Bieniemy 3,940 1987 1988 1989 1990 2 Rodney Stewart 3,598 2008 2009 2010 2011 3 Phillip Lindsay 3,550[ 22] 2014 2015 2016 2017 4 Bobby Purify 3,096 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 5 Rashaan Salaam 3,057 1992 1993 1994 6 Charlie Davis 2,958 1971 1972 1973 7 Hugh Charles 2,795 2004 2005 2006 2007 8 Chris Brown 2,787 2001 2002 9 James Mayberry 2,548 1975 1976 1977 1978 10 Herchell Troutman 2,487 1994 1995 1996 1997
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Rashaan Salaam 2,055 1994 2 Chris Brown 1,841 2002 3 Eric Bieniemy 1,628 1990 4 Charlie Davis 1,386 1971 5 Rodney Stewart 1,318 2010 6 James Mayberry 1,299 1977 7 Phillip Lindsay 1,254[ 22] 2017 8 Phillip Lindsay 1,252[ 22] 2016 9 Eric Bieniemy 1,243 1988 10 Tony Reed 1,210 1976
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Nelson Spruce 3,347 2012 2013 2014 2015 2 Shay Fields 2,590[ 27] 2014 2015 2016 2017 3 Scotty McKnight 2,588 2007 2008 2009 2010 4 Michael Westbrook 2,548 1991 1992 1993 1994 5 Rae Carruth 2,540 1992 1994 1995 1996 6 Charles Johnson 2,447 1990 1991 1992 1993 7 Paul Richardson 2,412 2010 2011 2012 2013 8 Phil Savoy 2,176 1994 1995 1996 1997 9 Derek McCoy 2,038 2000 2001 2002 2003 10 Javon Green 2,031 1997 1998 1999 2000
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Paul Richardson 1,343 2013 2 Travis Hunter 1,258[ 28] 2024 3 Nelson Spruce 1,198 2014 4 Charles Johnson 1,149 1992 5 Rae Carruth 1,116 1996 6 Charles Johnson 1,082 1993 7 Michael Westbrook 1,060 1992 8 Nelson Spruce 1,053 2015 9 D.J. Hackett 1,013 2003 10 Laviska Shenault Jr. 1,011[ 29] 2018
Receiving touchdowns
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 43]
Total offense yards Career Rank Player Yards Years 1 Sefo Liufau 10,702 2013 2014 2015 2016 2 Steven Montez 10,670 2016 2017 2018 2019 3 Kordell Stewart 8,538 1991 1992 1993 1994 4 Cody Hawkins 7,718 2007 2008 2009 2010 5 Joel Klatt 7,562 2002 2003 2004 2005 6 Shedeur Sanders 7,237 [ 6] 2023 2024 7 Tyler Hansen 6,338 2008 2009 2010 2011 8 Darian Hagan 6,276 1988 1989 1990 1991 9 Koy Detmer 5,747 1992 1994 1995 1996 10 Mike Moschetti 5,355 1998 1999
Single season Rank Player Yards Year 1 Shedeur Sanders 4,084 [ 6] 2024 2 Sefo Liufau 3,336 2014 3 Steven Montez 3,313 2017 4 Steven Montez 3,187 2018 5 Shedeur Sanders 3,153 [ 6] 2023 6 Koy Detmer 3,150 1996 7 Tyler Hansen 2,998 2011 8 Steven Montez 2,961 2019 9 Sefo Liufau 2,860 [ 5] 2016 10 Kordell Stewart 2,823 1993
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 46]
Defense
Interceptions
Tackles
Sacks
Kicking
Field goals made Single game Rank Player FGs Year Opponent 1 Jeremy Aldrich 5 1999 Kansas Kevin Eberhart 5[ 52] 2007 Baylor
Field goal percentage Single season Rank Player FG% Year 1 Jeremy Aldrich 85.7% 1997
References ^ a b "Leaders" (PDF) . 2024 Colorado Football Record Book . Colorado Buffaloes. Retrieved November 27, 2024 . ^ a b "Leaders" (PDF) . 2023 Colorado Football Record Book . Colorado Buffaloes. Retrieved September 2, 2023 . ^ a b "2015 Colorado Buffaloes Media Guide" (PDF) . CUBuffs.com . Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015 . ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats" . ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014 . ^ a b c d e "Sefo Liufau" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Shedeur Sanders" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2024 . ^ a b c d e f "Colorado vs. TCU Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023 . ^ a b c d "California emerges in OT despite Colorado's huge day" . ESPN.com . September 10, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. ^ a b c d e f "California beats Colorado 59-56 in double OT" . ESPN.com . September 27, 2014. ^ a b c d e "Colorado vs. North Dakota State Box Score" . ESPN.com . August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024 . ^ a b c d "Colorado vs. Oklahoma State Box Score" . ESPN.com . November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024 . ^ "Colorado 50, Kansas 47 (OT)" . ESPN.com . October 11, 2003. ^ a b c "Stanford vs. Colorado Box Score" . ESPN.com . October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023 . ^ Aloha Bowl ^ a b "Klatt leads Colorado past CSU" . ESPN.com . August 31, 2003. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. ^ "Klatt hurls 4 TD passes; Colorado special teams dominate" . ESPN.com . October 23, 2005. ^ "Colorado's defense stifles Iowa St. in last seconds" . ESPN.com . November 8, 2008. ^ a b "Rockets roll up 624 yards total offense in win over Buffs" . ESPN.com . September 12, 2009. ^ "Colorado State vs. Colorado Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023 . ^ a b "USC vs. Colorado Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023 . ^ a b "Colorado vs. Colorado State Box Score" . ESPN.com . September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024 . ^ a b c d e "Phillip Lindsay" . ESPN . Retrieved November 3, 2017 . ^ "Colorado vs. Arizona Box Score" . ESPN . December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2020 . ^ "Arizona's Khalil Tate sets FBS QB rushing mark with 327 yards in a win over Colorado" . ESPN . Associated Press . October 8, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017 . ^ a b Liberty Bowl ^ "Liufau leads Buffs past Charleston Southern 43-10" . ESPN.com . October 19, 2013. ^ a b c d "Shay Fields" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ a b c d e "Travis Hunter" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2024 . ^ a b c "Laviska Shenault Jr" . ESPN . ^ a b "LaJohntay Wester" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2024 . ^ "Devin Ross" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ "Spruce leads Colorado past Hawaii 21-12" . ESPN.com . September 20, 2014. ^ "Thompson leads Washington past Colorado 38-23" . ESPN.com . November 1, 2014. ^ "Cougs use second-half surge to seal win" . ESPN.com . September 13, 2003. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. ^ "Oklahoma St. clips Colorado, keeps pressure on Texas in Big 12 race" . ESPN.com . November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. ^ "Kansas runs off 35 straight in fourth to stun Colorado" . ESPN.com . November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. ^ a b "Richardson leads Colorado past Cent. Ark. 38-24" . ESPN.com . September 8, 2013. ^ "Colorado beats Cal 41-24 to snap conference skid" . ESPN.com . November 13, 2013. ^ "No. 24 UCLA blows big lead, rallies to beat Colorado" . ESPN.com . October 31, 2015. ^ "No. 15 Colorado squeaks by UCLA 20-10 despite penalties" . ESPN.com . November 3, 2016. ^ "Richardson leads CU to 41-27 win over CSU" . ESPN.com . September 1, 2013. ^ "Colorado crushes Oregon State 47-6 behind Montez, Fields" . ESPN.com . October 1, 2016. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ "Colorado holds off Oregon in Steven Montez's first career start" . ESPN.com . September 24, 2016. ^ "Liufau scores 3 TDs, No. 10 Colorado beats No. 22 Wash State" . ESPN.com . November 19, 2016. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ "Harrell's 4 INTs too much as Colorado rolls Texas Tech" . ESPN.com . October 27, 2007. ^ a b c "James Stefanou" . ESPN . ^ a b "Cole Becker" . ESPN . ^ a b "Alejandro Mata" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 31, 2024 . ^ a b "Diego Gonzalez" . ESPN.com . Retrieved January 15, 2017 . ^ "Colorado 43, Baylor 23" . ESPN.com . October 6, 2007.
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold