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The Buffaloes will look to keep the Centennial Cup
This Game and Rivalry History:
This Saturday night, Colorado will head upstate to face off against rival Colorado State in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The game kicks off at 5:30 PM, with both teams aiming to move to 2-1. The Rocky Mountain Showdown rarely disappoints, and many fans will remember Colorado’s thrilling 43-35 win in double overtime last year.
That game was unforgettable for most college football fans. To be blunt, it was ugly—featuring 27 penalties and six turnovers by the end of the second overtime. This game had everything: trick plays, pick-sixes, flaring tempers, and an 11-point fourth-quarter comeback by Colorado that led to a dramatic finish in double overtime. It felt more like a video game than a real football game, ultimately ending in a spectacular Buffs’ victory.
Historically, Colorado has dominated this rivalry, winning 68 of the 92 meetings. The Buffs have also claimed the last six matchups, dating back to 2015. While Colorado is the favored team, this makes Colorado State even more motivated to fight hard at home and reclaim the Centennial Cup.
What To Look For From The Buffs:
Colorado enters this game after a tough loss to Nebraska last weekend. While not much went right for the Buffs, there’s a lot to be learned from how a team handles adversity and whether they can grow from their mistakes. One key takeaway is that their play-calling, especially in the run game, needs more variety.
Colorado has also realized that sometimes their biggest obstacle is themselves, as the Buffs have been plagued by turnovers, miscommunication and a general lack of discipline. Though changes are necessary, I suspect we’ll see many of the same issues reappear in this matchup.
Last year’s Rocky Mountain Showdown saw Colorado make many of the same mistakes we’ve already seen this season. Colorado State dominated time of possession (34:37 to 25:23) and the Buffs found themselves in an 11-point deficit with just 11 minutes remaining. The Buffs still struggle to win in the trenches, and they do look undisciplined, but at least the defense is making halftime adjustments to get back on track.
All things considered, I expect another ugly game. Colorado’s run game will likely be ineffective, mental mistakes will happen, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trailing late once again—even though I still predict a win. The Buffs’ strength lies in their receiving corps, and as fans, you have to hope those strengths can outweigh their glaring weaknesses. Colorado will likely win this game through the air, and the deciding factor will be whether Shedeur Sanders can avoid turnovers or not.
What To Look For From The Rams:
Colorado State is difficult to assess this early in the season. Their first game against Texas was more of a tune-up for the Longhorns, who brought in the Rams to secure an easy win without scheduling an FCS team. In their second game, the Rams faced neighboring FCS opponent, the University of Northern Colorado, and while they should have won by at least 30 points, they only managed a 21-point victory.
At this point, we can expect CSU to look like a more cohesive version of their 2023 squad. They’ve kept their core players intact on both sides of the ball, but like Colorado, the Rams have a habit of making mistakes. They struggle with many of the same issues: an inconsistent run game, turnovers, and a lack of diversity in their play-calling. However, they may have the best passing attack in the Mountain West Conference.
This offense will put points on the board. As an air-raid team, they rely heavily on quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who is in his third year with the program and has a solid grasp of the system. CSU also boasts the top receiving corps in the Mountain West, and they will find ways to get open despite Colorado’s strong matchups on the outside. Expect a lot of pass attempts and maybe even a few trick plays, as the Rams love to mix things up offensively.
Players To Watch: Colorado
Shedeur Sanders (2): As the coach’s son and a team leader (denoted by the “L” on his jersey), Shedeur is the most important player on the roster. He’ll need to avoid turnovers while taking calculated risks to ensure the Buffs control the game.
Jimmy Horn (5): Colorado’s biggest advantage against Colorado State is speed, particularly on the perimeter. Jimmy Horn should be able to get open on a variety of routes from the slot, and with no one on CSU’s defense able to keep up with him, he’s primed for another big game.
Players To Watch: Colorado State
Tory Horton (14) and Caleb Goodie (2): Tory Horton is one of the best wide receivers in the nation and has already cracked the top-100 all-time FBS receiving yards list. His understudy, Caleb Goodie, has been impressive so far this season. These two will be the focal points of CSU’s passing attack.
Jack Howell (17) and Henry Blackburn (11): Howell and Blackburn form one of the best safety tandems in college football. Both are versatile and can play the run or defend the pass. If CSU makes big defensive plays, expect these two to be heavily involved.
Prediction:
Colorado 35
Colorado State 27
by Jacob.Thompson
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