The 93rd version of the Rocky Mountain Showdown will happen Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App (Free). For the primary time since 1996, Colorado State will host Colorado in Fort Collins. This collection between the flagship universities within the Centennial State began in 1893, and the rivalry was performed yearly from 1899-1958 earlier than resuming in 1983.
Colorado has received the final six conferences, and none had been extra polarizing than final 12 months’s showdown in Boulder. The Buffaloes got here from behind to defeat the Rams 43-35 in double-overtime to maneuver to 3-0 to start out the Deion Sanders period.
Colorado leads the all-time collection 68-22-2, however there have been dozens of electrical moments: the Rams’ 19-14 upset over the No. 7 Buffaloes in 2002, marquee quarterback play from Joel Klatt and Bradlee Van Pelt within the early 2000s, and the “tear gasoline” recreation in 1999 most notably amongst them.
This may mark the ultimate matchup on this collection till 2029, with the 2 groups scheduled to satisfy six instances between 2029 and 2038. With this being the ultimate recreation for the foreseeable future, listed here are among the largest moments from the rivalry forward of Saturday’s conflict on CBS.
1. Colorado strikes to 3-0 beneath Deion Sanders
When: Sept. 16, 2023 | Consequence: Colorado 43, Colorado State 35 (2OT)
This was probably the most iconic moments of the Rocky Mountain Showdown. It had all of it: Shilo Sanders’ 80-yard choose six to open the scoring, Travis Hunter leaving the sport with an damage, and Shedeur Sanders architecting a game-tying drive within the last moments. Colorado State star extensive receiver Tory Horton had a monster efficiency, catching 16 passes for 133 yards and a landing. The chatter and build-up round this recreation ended with a healthful second when Hunter and Colorado State DB Henry Blackburn — the participant who laid the large hit on the Colorado star — met up for a recreation of bowling to boost cash for charity.
2. The “tear gasoline recreation”
When: Sept. 4, 1999 | Consequence: Colorado 41, Colorado State 14
Within the last moments of Colorado’s blowout win over Colorado State, Denver Police distributed tear gasoline on followers within the stands. Whereas Colorado gamers had been strolling to the locker room, followers began tossing cups, bottles, and different particles, inflicting the northeast stands to be full of tear gasoline. Denver Police Capt. R.A. Ryan stated after the sport that many followers had been “fairly properly intoxicated,” which “triggered” the tear gasoline to be distributed. In accordance with the Denver Submit, some followers within the northeast nook chanted “purpose publish,” indicating they’d attempt to rush the sector to tear them down.
3. Rams pull top-10 upset
When: Aug. 31, 2002 | Consequence: Colorado State 19, Colorado 14
Coming off a 10-3 marketing campaign in 2001, Colorado opened the season ranked No. 7 however fell to its in-state rival in an exciting ending. With Colorado State trailing 14-13 with lower than seven minutes to play, Van Pelt turned an choice play right into a 23-yard landing burst. The long-lasting second got here when Van Pelt broke the airplane and spiked the soccer on the facet of a Colorado participant’s helmet. Colorado State would cease Colorado and fourth down on the following possession to seal the win.
4. Buffs begin successful streak in dramatic trend
When: Sept. 19, 2015 | Consequence: Colorado 27, Colorado State 24 (OT)
Colorado State operating again Jasen Oden Jr. scored a 1-yard landing run with 4:29 in regulation to ship the sport to additional time, and the interval past regulation offered one other Kodak second on this collection. Colorado State kicker Wyatt Bryan’s 27-yard area was blocked by Tedric Thompson, and Colorado kicker Diego Gonzalez redeemed himself from a missed area purpose on the finish of regulation with a 32-yard walk-off kick. This began Colorado’s present six-game successful streak over Colorado State.
5. Rams win final matchup for 25 years
When: Nov. 22, 1958 | Consequence: Colorado State 15, Colorado 14
Colorado State received a nail-bitter over Colorado in what marked the ultimate recreation on this collection for 25 years till it resumed in 1983. In 1995, this collection was resumed as an annual rivalry till the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the sport to be canceled in 2020 because of the Pac-12 proscribing its members to play convention opponents solely. This rivalry will take a five-year hiatus earlier than it is resumed in 2029.