It was also the final season as members the Big 12 Conference in the North Division for Colorado, before joining the Pac-12 Conference for the 2011 season, the Buffaloes would return to the Big 12 in 2024.

Hawkins was fired on November 9 by Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn.

[1] Three days prior to the dismissal, Hawkins' 3–5 (0–4) Buffaloes suffered a fourth-quarter meltdown that saw the 2–6 Kansas Jayhawks overcome a 28-point deficit and outscore Colorado 35–0 in the final 11:05 of the game.

Hawkins had never secured a winning season during his tenure at Colorado, finishing with a record of 19–39 and in the midst of a 17-game road losing streak.

Bohn promoted Associate head coach Brian Cabral to fill in as interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2010 season, as the University prepared for a national search to replace Hawkins.