Beginning in Fall 2026, Colorado Athletics is launching Charged Up — a brand new student loyalty and rewards program that puts you at the center of the Buffs gameday experience.
This program was built with student input from the ground up, in partnership with the Student Government Tri-Execs, the Division of Student Life, The Charge student section, and CU students across campus. The result is a system that rewards the students who show up, cheer loud, and bring the energy that makes venues at the University of Colorado the best home environments in college sports.
Show up. Earn points. Climb the leaderboard.
Earn priority access to the biggest games.
Unlock exclusive rewards and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Whether you've got a CU Sports Pass or you're a casual student fan looking to catch an Olympic sport like soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, women's basketball or tennis for free, every student can participate. The more you support the Buffs, the more the Buffs reward you.
The $265 CU Sports Pass is your all-access ticket to Colorado football and men's basketball home games. One pass, one price, access to claim every home game in both sports — with no per-game fees and no extra charges when you claim a ticket.
What's included:
On-Sale Dates: The CU Sports Pass goes on sale Thursday, July 9, 2026. A second on-sale will follow on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Sports Passes are non-refundable.
Want first crack at football tickets each week? The Buff Club Student Membership ($125, in addition to your Sports Pass) is your ticket to the front of the line.
The BEST benefit: priority access to claim football tickets. When the claim window opens on the Sunday before each home game, Buff Club Student Members get a two-hour priority window from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. — before tickets open to the rest of CU Sports Pass holders at 1 p.m.
Buff Club Student Members also receive exclusive invitations to two members-only events each year.
The Buff Club Student Membership is a separate add-on to the CU Sports Pass and is limited in quantity each year.
It's simple:
You don't need a CU Sports Pass to be a part of Charged Up. Every undergraduate CU student can earn points at every home Olympic sport — volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, and more — for free with their student ID. CU Sports Pass holders earn additional points by claiming tickets and attending football and men's basketball games.
Where you start: In the inaugural year of Charged Up, your starting point total will be based on your class year, determined by the number of CU credit hours you've completed entering the 2026-27 school year. Colorado Athletics will collaborate with the Registrar's Office to confirm credit hour point allocations. Class year points will be allocated the week of August 31, 2026.
How you check in: The Buffs Mobile App uses Bluetooth beacons placed throughout CU Athletics venues to automatically check you in when you arrive. Check-in will be manually verified by scanning your claimed student ticket.
Where you track progress: See your points and your place on the leaderboard anytime in the Leaderboard tab of the Buffs Mobile App.
| Sport | Non-Conf. Attendance Points | Big 12 Attendance Points | Bonus Points Events | Bonus Points Value | Arrive 30-Min Early Bonus | End of Game Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 100 | 75 | 2 | 150 | 40 | 40 |
| Soccer | 100 | 150 | 2 | 250 | 25 | 25 |
| Volleyball | 100 | 150 | 3 | 250 | 25 | 25 |
| Men's Basketball | 125 | 100 | 4 | 200–250 | 40 | 40 |
| Women's Basketball | 125 | 100 | 4 | 200–250 | 40 | 40 |
| Lacrosse | 100 | 150 | 2 | 250 | 25 | 25 |
| Tennis | 100 | 150 | 2 | 250 | 25 | 25 |
| Track & Field | 100 | — | 1 | 200 | — | — |
Bonus point games are designated select home contests throughout the year. Arrive early bonuses are awarded for arriving at least 30 minutes before tip-off, kickoff, or first whistle.
Additional point-earning opportunities — including game attendance streaks and Student Life partnership events — will be announced throughout the year.
Charged Up runs in real time. Claim windows, premium point game announcements, exclusive rewards, and last-minute opportunities all move fast. Make sure you don't miss out.
Get text alerts for ticket claim windows, big game reminders, and rewards opportunities sent straight to your phone.
Sign Up for TextsTurn on push notifications in the Buffs Mobile App so you're the first to know when claim windows open and point opportunities go live.
Turn On NotificationsFootball ticket access is included with your CU Sports Pass — no per-game fee, no claim charge. You'll login to claim a ticket each game week during the Sunday claim window. Just 12,000 students can claim a ticket each week.
The claim window opens the Sunday before each home game:
Make a note of claim windows and set alarms on your mobile device!
The first football claim window opens Sunday, September 6, 2026 for the home opener vs. Weber State on Saturday, September 12.
Men's basketball ticket access is included with your CU Sports Pass — no per-game fee, no claim charge.
The men's basketball claim process follows a similar timeline as football games. Specific timing and window details for each game will be announced ahead of the season and communicated via email, text, and Buffs Mobile App push notifications.
The Charged Up loyalty program rewards consistent attendance throughout the year. Top point earners on the leaderboard will receive priority claim access for select men's basketball games during the season.
Earn Charged Up points at every game.
All Colorado Olympic sports — women's basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, cross country, track & field, tennis, men's golf, women's golf, and skiing — are free for all eligible undergraduate CU students to attend. Claim a ticket ahead of time or show your CU student ID at the entrance of each event to get a ticket for admission. Claiming a ticket and getting it scanned lets us know for sure you were there and will make it easier for you to get in to the game!
Olympic sports are also one of the best ways to earn loyalty points. Whether or not you have a CU Sports Pass, every Olympic home game you attend gets you closer to priority access and redeemable prizes throughout the year. Climb the overall leaderboard to also gain early purchase access to future CU Sports Pass on-sales.
Please note: Olympic sports entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to the capacity of each venue. Once capacity is reached, admission may no longer be available for students.
The more you support the Buffs, the more the Buffs reward you. Charged Up unlocks priority access, exclusive experiences, and great perks throughout the year.
Top loyalty point earners may receive priority claim access to high-demand football and men's basketball games throughout the season.
When the Buffs go to the postseason, top point earners get first access to claim postseason tickets.
Earn invitations to exclusive student-only events throughout the year, including behind-the-scenes access with Colorado Athletics.
Your loyalty points double as raffle entries for prize drawings tied to home games throughout the year.
A select group of top-earning graduating seniors will be invited to a complimentary graduation photoshoot at Folsom Field. Winners are selected at the conclusion of the basketball season.
Use your points to unlock discounts at home game concessions and the official Buffs Team Shop.
Discounts and gift card opportunities through Colorado Athletics' corporate partners.
The highest point earners receive priority access to purchase their CU Sports Pass for the following school year.
More reward opportunities will be announced throughout the 2026-27 school year. Check the Buffs Mobile App and CUBuffs.com regularly for updates.
Still have questions? We've got answers to the most common ones right here:
The Charged Up program was built in response to direct requests from the Student Government Tri-Execs and student feedback throughout the past year. The goal was to create a system that rewards engaged students at every CU Athletics event — not just the students with the financial means to attend the biggest games. By tying ticket priority to attendance and engagement instead of cost alone, every CU student has a real path to access the games they want to see.
No. Every eligible undergraduate CU student can earn Charged Up points by attending Olympic sports, which are free with your student ID. The CU Sports Pass is required only for football and men's basketball ticket access. You can build a leaderboard ranking and unlock rewards without buying a CU Sports Pass.
Charged Up officially launches on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The first home athletic event where students can earn points will be Colorado Soccer vs. Colorado State on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at Prentup Field.
The Buffs Mobile App uses Bluetooth beacons placed throughout CU Athletics venues to automatically check you in when you arrive at a home event. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone, you allow it to find Bluetooth devices, the Buffs Mobile App is installed and you are signed in. If automatic check-in doesn’t work, be sure your claimed game ticket is scanned to verify attendance.
Once the program is open, you will be able to open Charged Up in the Buffs Mobile App and tap the Leaderboard tab. You'll see your current point total and where you stand against the rest of the CU student body.
A percentage of loyalty points earned will rollover at the end of each academic year.
Things come up — we get it. If you've claimed a ticket and can't make the game, please email cutix@colorado.edu from your CU email address to let us know so we can release it for another student. If you no-show for a game and don't tell us, you lose your opportunity to claim the next game.
The football ticket claim window opens the Sunday before each home game. Buff Club Student Members get a priority window from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. MT. The general claim window opens at 1 p.m. MT for all CU Sports Pass holders and stays open until tickets are claimed out. Top point earners may have the opportunity to receive priority claim access as the season progresses.
No. CU Sports Passes are non-refundable once purchased. Please review what's included before purchasing.
Grad students and other professional degree-seeking individuals do not pay the Student Athletic Fee that CU undergraduates pay, and do not receive access to attend Olympic sports for free. They are not eligible for Charged Up.
The CU Athletics Ticket Office is happy to help. You can reach the Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MT) at 303-492-8337 or by email at cutix@colorado.edu.