BOULDER — Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre joked that he won’t be bringing a young team or anything to face Colorado State.

Except that there was a reference to diapers Tuesday during his weekly news conference. Colorado and CSU open their seasons Friday night at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“I’m going to take some diaper rash (cream) to the stadium,” MacIntyre joked when asked about the youth on his roster. “We have some young guys.

“A few of them will have jitters. A few of them won’t. I’m excited about our young people and how they’re improving and what they’re doing.”

According to research conducted by the CU sports information office, with 71 underclassmen — 44 freshmen, 27 sophomores — among a roster of 105 players, the Buffaloes are the youngest team in the Pac-12 and 11th youngest nationally.

Colorado’s probable starters include three redshirt freshmen and 10 sophomores.

By comparison, CSU’s youngest projected starters are three sophomores — all on offense.

“It will be fun to watch (our young guys) play,” MacIntyre said. “At times it will be exhilarating. At times you’ll want to pull your hair out. But it will be a growing process. I think they’re ready to go and ready to play well and go from there.”

MacIntyre said he enjoys the intrastate rivalry game being played in Denver and also being early in the schedule rather than at the end of the schedule like some rivalry battles.

“I think it’s a heck of a rivalry,” MacIntyre said. “It’s going to be a heck of a football game for both of us. I know our kids are excited about playing.

“Colorado State is really good. They’re a good football team.”

Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or twitter.com/tomkensler