CSU - CU football rivalry to take a break in 2021

Colorado State University versus the University of Colorado football has been a rivalry affair since 1893. And every year since 1995 the game has been played, with a majority of those games being played at either Mile High or Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

It’s annually the Centennial State’s biggest college football contest – even if crowd sizes have waned in recent years – and it will continue to be played through 2020.

But in 2021, the rivalry between Colorado State and the University of Colorado will cease to exist. At least for that season.

On Wednesday, CU’s David Plati announced the Buffaloes had completed their 2021 schedule and filled their final non-conference game with Texas A&M. It’s a move that makes sense considering the high profile of the Aggies who call the SEC home compared to the Rams of the Mountain West.

CU said they are willing to work with CSU and could the Rocky Mountain Showdown could fill non-conference holes in 2022-24, but that remains to be seen. While the series started back in 1893, there have been six times the rivalry has been interrupted, most notably being the 1958-83 absence of the game.

For now, the Rocky Mountain Showdown will continue through 2020, with “New” Mile High hosting every game leading up to the 2020 hosting by Fort Collins, the first time since 1996. All-time, CU holds the 62-22-2 advantage, but it’s the Buffs with a slimmer 9-7 lead over the last 16 years.

Rams fans argue their team has finally caught up to the Buffaloes and because the rivalry has been more competitive, CU is scared. The Buffs, however, are saying it makes more financial sense to play a team other than CSU, which is likely true. Especially if Boulder is hosting instead of playing in Denver. Even if they play a team from a Power 5 conference on the road, it benefits the CU’s strength of schedule.

Still, the biggest losers are fans of college football in Colorado. CSU has three rivals, Air Force, Wyoming and CU, but playing the Buffaloes is special because it means bragging rights for the year for both schools. Colorado State and CU are the most attended schools in the state and a ton of graduates still live here, and the buzz surrounding the game with the coming season is always great fun for sports-lovers.

So, hopefully the series will be back on starting in 2022 and continue to enjoy a fruitful love-hate relationship. If it dies, a large part of Colorado college football will die with it.