Sports Briefs: Fall 2026

Buff Bits

Olympic runner Jenny Simpson (Econ, PolSci’09) announced in August she will never run again after collapsing at a June event in Raleigh, North Carolina. Simpson suffered cardiac arrest and spent days on life support before recovering. … CU Athletics introduced Ralphie’s Road, a new gameday tailgate tradition outside Folsom Field on Colorado Avenue that includes a DJ, a big screen showing live games, food and drink vendors and a Ralphie appearance. … Men’s golf’s Brandon Knight (Fin’27) reached the quarterfinals of August’s U.S. Amateur, and was the first Buff to make it past the third round. … Former women’s basketball star Isabelle Fijalkowski (A&S ex’95) was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June. Fijalkowski led Colorado to a No. 1 NCAA seed and the Elite Eight in the 1994–95 season. … Soccer All-American Hope Leyba (IntPhys’27) was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following her third career hat trick in a 6-0 win over the University of Denver in September. … Ann Elliott Whidden, CU’s first women’s lacrosse head coach, had her contract extended through 2029.

Coach Talk 

  There’s not a match this season that we’re not going to be in a position to win.  

— Volleyball head coach Jesse Mahoney after the No. 23 Buffs defeated No. 16 USC in September in Los Angeles.

Scores