BOULDER, Colo. — Another offseason of high drama and big rosters moves has finally led to this for coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes – an actual football game, this time vs. North Dakota State to open Sanders’ second season as head coach.

And it likely won’t be easy for Coach Prime and the Buffs.

North Dakota State has won Football Championship Subdivision titles nine times in 11 years from 2011-2021. Its power running attack ranked fourth nationally last year at the FCS level in rushing yards per game with 237.5 and will test a defensive front for Colorado that has added several new transfers, including defensive end BJ Green from Arizona State and Chidozie Nwankwo from Houston. Both will try to chase down veteran senior quarterback Cam Miller, a fifth-year player who has started 38 straight games and ranked second nationally in completion percentage (72%).

The Buffs finished with a 4-8 record in Sanders’ first season last year, when they also ranked dead-last in rushing yards per game. They will try to revive their running game Thursday to at least help relieve the burden for star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son.

USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the game. Follow along.

When is Colorado-North Dakota State game? 

• Kickoff is Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET.

How to watch Colorado-North Dakota State game 

• The game will be on ESPN and can be steamed on ESPN+ and Fubo.

Colorado's opener not quite sold out

BOULDER, Colo. — Thursday’s season opener for coach Deion Sanders and Colorado wasn’t sold out, as of Thursday afternoon, even though the Buffs sold out every home game in Sanders’ first season last year, when the Buffs finished 4-8. But Folsom Field still is expected to be nearly full after classes started this week on campus.

As of Thursday afternoon, Colorado said it still had about 2,300 tickets available for the game against North Dakota State. The capacity at Folsom Field is listed at 50,183.

Colorado announced in May that it had sold out of season tickets for the second straight year, but single-game tickets still were available for some games. 

What are Thursday night's college football games?

(All times Eastern)

• Howard at Rutgers, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
• Western Carolina at NC State, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
• North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• New Hampshire at UCF, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Jackson State at UL Monroe, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Lafayette at Buffalo, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Fordham at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Central Connecticut at Central Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Arkansas Pine Bluff at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
• Duquesne at Toledo, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Murray State at Missouri, 8 p.m. (SEC Network)
• Lindenwood at Kansas, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
• North Carolina at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (FOX)
• North Dakota State at Colorado, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
• Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State, 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
• Alcorn State at UAB, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
• SE Louisiana at Tulane, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Northwestern State at Tulsa, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Southern Utah at Utah, 9 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Eastern Illinois at Illinois, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
• Sacramento State at San Jose State, 10 p.m. (truTV/Max)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.