Game predictions
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: I’d love to buy into Rece Davis’ little narrative that CSU coach Jay Norvell is just being sly like his old mentor, Hayden Fry, in trying to amp up his Rammies for a Rocky Mountain Showdown that, on paper, that shouldn’t be a game. That still doesn’t make it a good idea, especially with CU pretty much emotionally having things on auto-pilot for most of the week … until Thursday. We’ve had one shoving match already. This has the smell of an ugly game and a long, long night. But some great TV. Potentially. CU 52, CSU 17.
Pre-game updates
Prime Rage: CU, CSU football players tussle before Rocky Mountain Showdown
BOULDER — Oh, it’s more than personal now.
The 92nd Rocky Mountain Showdown got off to a rocky start at Folsom Field on Saturday night, as with 90 minutes to go until kickoff, tempers flared at midfield between players and staff from the CU Buffs and CSU Rams. Read more…
CU Buffs vs. Nebraska: Must reads
Keeler: Bradlee Van Pelt on CU Buffs, Coach Prime and why his CSU Rams can shock the world
BOULDER — If the Buffs want to keep Bradlee Van Pelt out of Folsom Field Saturday night, they’re gonna have to wrap up this time.
“I have a ticket,” the former CSU Rams quarterback and CU Public Enemy No. 1 told me Tuesday afternoon during his California commute. “I have a ticket, they say, if I make it.”
He laughed. If? Are you kidding? Deion Sanders? Rocky Mountain Showdown? With his Rammies up against the world, Stephen A. Smith, the Wu-Tang Clan, ESPN, Fox Sports and half the 1997 Pro Bowl roster? Dude wouldn’t miss it.
“Hang on, hang on,” I said. “Are you even allowed at Folsom after what happened last time?” Read more…
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The Rocky Mountain Showdown returns on Saturday, September 16, 2023, to Folsom Field in Boulder. This is the 92nd meeting between the Colorado State Rams and the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The No. 18 Buffs look to take a sixth straight win and their 10th in the teams’ last 11 meetings. Though CU is riding the wave of success behind head coach Deion Sanders after wins against TCU and Nebraska, the ranked team in the past six meetings is 0-6. (Denver Post file)
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The Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie and it’s handlers take the field before the Buffs play the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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CAM the Ram and its handlers run in the end zone after Colorado State Rams wide receiver Olabisi Johnson #81 scored a touchdown in the first quarter during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Broncos Stadium at Mile High Aug. 31, 2018. CAM the Ram prepares for on of the nation’s premier live-animal mascot matchups as Ralphie VI awaits. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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Past and then-present CSU football players John Hammond (second from left) and Dr. Floyd Cross joined Tom Robinson (left) and Doug Endres at ceremonies Monday, May 9, 1967 signaling the start of construction on new 30,000-seat football stadium to be located west of main campus. The stadium, later known as Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, would not host a game between CSU and the University of Colorado Buffaloes until October 3, 1987 – a 29-16 win for CU. The Rams defeated New Mexico 49–31 during the team’s last game at the field on November 19, 2016 before moving to their modern on-campus facility, Sonny Lubick Field
at Canvas Stadium. (Denver Post file) -
Colorado State University lineman practice in Fort Collins during the 1985 spring season on April 21, 1985. The Rams would lose to 23-10 to the Colorado Buffaloes on September 7, 1985 in Boulder. During the decade CU dominated the renewed rivalry by way of a 5-1 record. The Rams’ sole win came in 1986, a 23-7 win at Boulder. (Denver Post file)
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Colorado State Rams player John Ivlov eludes University of Colorado Buffaloes defender Greg Lindsey on his way to scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of No. 12 CU’s 37-17 win on September 6, 1992 in Boulder. The victory was the fourth of an eight-win streak by the Buffs – tied for the second longest run in the series. From 1934 to 1947 the Buffs rattled off 12 straight wins. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)
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OCTOBER 4, 1987: University of Colorado Buffaloes defenders Michael Jones, Mickey Pruitt and Rodney Rogers put on a big hit on Colorado State Rams running back Tony Carr during CU’s 29-16 in Fort Collins. The win was the first of eight straight for CU spanning from 1987 until CSU’s 42-14 upset win over No. 14 CU on September 4, 1999. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo By Damian Strohmeyer/The Denver Post)
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University of Colorado Buffaloes player Mike Pritchard scores the winning touchdown as Colorado State Rams defender Lance Ane fails to stop him during a 27-23 showdown on October 1, 1988. The four-point loss was the closest game during an eight-win streak by CU, which saw the Buffs outscore the Rams 301-159. (Photo By Duane Howell/The Denver Post)
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In this undated photo workers paint Colorado into the end zone ahead of a showdown between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams. Colorado leads the all-time series 67-22-2. The Buffs won 52-31 at Mile High in Denver on August 30, 2019 to cap off their fifth straight win and look to ride a 2-0 record behind head coach Deion Sanders for a sixth.
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Head Coach Sonny Lubick of the Colorado State Rams gets soaked by his team during the post-game interviews after CSU’s 28-24 win over the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes on September 2, 2000 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 28-24. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2000’s Showdown was the third of six straight that saw one of the two teams ranked. They split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo by Rodolfo Ganzales/Allsport)
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Quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt (11) of the Colorado State University Rams high steps past safety J.J. Billingsley (5) of the University of Colorado Buffaloes during the CU’s 42-35 upset win at Invesco Field at Mile High on August 30, 2003 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
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Quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt of the No. 24 ranked CSU Rams is greeted in the end zone by running back Rahsaan Sanders (3) and tight end Matt Bartz (92) after Van Pelt scored the game’s first touchdown during the CU Buffs’ 42-35 win on August 30, 2003. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2003’s Showdown was the sixth of six straight that saw one of the two teams ranked. They split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
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The 2010 Rocky Mountain Showdown was played on Sept. 4, 2010, at Invesco Field at Mile High.
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Center Tim Walter #57 of the Colorado State Rams readies to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage against the Colorado Buffaloes at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 1, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado won 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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Colorado University teaamtes, Scotty McKnight, left, Cody Hawkins, left, and Jalil Brown, right, hold the Governors trophy after defeating the Colorado State Rams 24-3 in the Cinch Jeans Rocky Mountain Showdown college football game at Mile High at Invesco Field Saturday, September 4th 2010. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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Colorado State mascot Cam the Ram gets tossed by fans during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Rams defeated the Buffs 22-17. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross
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Garrett Grayson of the Colorado State Rams throws against the Colorado Buffaloes defense during the second half of the Buffaloes’ 41-27 Rocky Mountain Showdown win at Mile High on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013.
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Getty Images file
The Colorado Buffaloes offense controls the ball against the Colorado State Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Mile High on Sept. 1, 2012 in Denver.
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BOULDER,CO–SEPTEMBER 4TH 2004–Colorado QB, Joel Klatt scrambles out of the pocket and gain a some yards against Colorado University late in the first quarter of play during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Folsom Field Saturday evening. THE DENVER POST/ ANDY CROSS
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New Colorado State University head coach, Jim McElwain, enters the field for warm-ups against Colorado University for annual Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium Saturday afternoon.
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Colorado and Colorado State helmets sit next to the Rocky Mountain Showdown trophy.
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Colorado State head coach, Jim McElwain, on the sidelines during the Rocky Mountain Showdown against University of Colorado at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Rams defeated the Buffs 22-17. (The Denver Post/ Andy Cross)
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Quarterback Garrett Grayson #18 of the Colorado State Rams drops back to pass against the Colorado Buffaloes in the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 1, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN: Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen avoids a sack by Colorado State at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in September 2011 during the annual game between the two schools.
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Parker Orms (13) of the Colorado Buffaloes upends Kivon Cartwright (86) of the Colorado State Rams during the second half of the Buffaloes’ 41-27 Rocky Mountain Showdown win at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday, September 1, 2013. CU leads the all-time series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
PHOTOS: A look back at the history of the Rocky Mountain Showdown
When the University of Colorado pummeled Colorado Agricultural College 70-6 on February 10, 1893, they laid a foundation. Now, 130 years and 91 meetings later, the two longtime rivals will revive their traditional matchup after a four-year layoff – the longest since the series was put on hold from 1958-1983.
In recent years, the Rocky Mountain Showdown has seen wins for both teams, though that hasn’t always been the case. Colorado’s win total now sits at 67, while Colorado State University has managed just 22 – seven of them coming in the past 21 meetings since 1999. Before 1999, CU rattled off eight straight wins spanning 1987-98. CSU’s lone success during the dominant Buffs’ run in the 1980s and 90s – not counting the 1999 win – was a 23-7 victory at Boulder on Sept. 6, 1986. More photos…
Kiszla: For his next trick, CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders could drive CSU football into oblivion
While we loudly sing the praises of Deion Sanders as the miracle worker that has brought CU football back from the dead, has all the gold and glitz of Coach Prime blinded us to the imminent demise of college sports?
“If we’re going to have to pay the players, college athletics that we’ve been used to will be obliterated. College athletics as we’ve known it will be gone within three years,” Chuck Neinas told me Thursday.
“CU won’t have skiing, won’t have track and won’t have soccer. They will all become club sports, with no financial aid for teams that will have to find their own coach and make their own travel.” Read more…
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