Buffs Set for Opener against No. 12 Michigan State

BOULDER, Colo. – There is no easing into the 2025 soccer season for head coach Danny Sanchez and his Colorado Buffaloes, which open the new campaign against the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans Thursday night at Prentup Field.

Thursday's season-opener will be just the sixth time the Buffs will take on a top-25 opponent to start the season. The last time CU opened the season with a ranked opponent was a 1-0 win over No. 11 Oklahoma State to jumpstart the 2009 season.

While this may seem like a daunting task for the Buffs, Sanchez views this match as an invaluable opportunity for his team to test their mettle and assess their strengths and weaknesses early in the season.

The chance to compete against a team like Michigan State right off the bat is an exciting opportunity, and the Buffs are eager to embrace it.

"It's a big opportunity for both teams," Sanchez explained. "It's a great opportunity for us to kind of test ourselves against a team that's going to compete for a Big 10 championship and will be in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year."

The early-season clash against Michigan State also offers Sanchez a unique opportunity to evaluate his roster and identify the players who will step up in high-stakes situations.

While the starting lineup for the season opener may not be set in stone, Sanchez is open to the idea of giving players a chance to prove themselves on the field. He understands that there's a significant difference between practice and real-game scenarios, and Thursday's opener will serve as a true litmus test for his team.

"There's one thing for training and even exhibition, but it's a whole other thing when you play a team of Michigan State's caliber," Sanchez said. "So, we're really looking forward to seeing how some players step up with the competition."

One player who has consistently risen to the occasion is senior goalkeeper Jordan Nytes.

As the sole captain of the team, she brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the field. Her dedication and professionalism have not gone unnoticed by her teammates and coaches. Sanchez believes that Nytes is preparing herself for a future in professional soccer, with ambitions to turn pro after this season.

Nytes has been hauling in different individual accolades this preseason. She was named Preseason All-Big 12 and landed at No. 9 on Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) Preseason Top 100 players. Nytes was also selected First Team TDS Best XI.

"She's going to be a pro in January," Sanchez added on Nytes. "That's her mentality. She's off the charts fit. Her preparation off the field has been first-class, and she's played great so far in the preseason. We know how important she is for us, so we're excited to see what she does in her last year."

Michigan State finished last season 14-3-5 and starts its 2025 season with its highest preseason ranking in program history. The Spartans advanced to the Round of 16 in last season's NCAA Tournament and return 19 players from last season's roster.

Colorado and MSU both have two wins in the series, with the Buffs earning a 1-0 win the last time the two teams met in 2023.

Brad Thompson will have the call all season long for the Buffs on ESPN+. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

For more information on Colorado Soccer, please visit cubuffs.com/soccer. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffssoccer on Instagram, X, TikTok and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Nytes