Folsom's Greatest Games #22 - Colorado vs. Colorado State 2023

September 16, 2023 #18 Colorado 43, Colorado State 35 (2OT)

Ten million people stayed up until the early hours of the morning to watch the most talked-about Rocky Mountain Showdown in history. Both College GameDay and Big Noon Kickoff were on campus. Ram coach Jay Norvell’s comments about sunglasses made things “personal”. The hype couldn’t have been bigger, and the Buffs were favored by three touchdowns. It was supposed to be a celebration.

Then the game started, and the good vibes quickly turned to panic. Travis Hunter suffered a season-altering injury. CSU played with no fear and held an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. Watching from the dangerously overcrowded stands, I found myself wondering how I was going to get out of the stadium in time to avoid seeing CSU fans dance on the Ralphie logo as they had the last time the RMS was played on campus in 2009.

Shedeur Sanders had other ideas, and he orchestrated a dramatic game-tying touchdown drive and two-point conversion that turned a nervous Folsom Field into a pulsating sea of human emotion. He threw two more touchdowns in overtime, both to unsung tight end Mikey Harrison, and the Buffs escaped with one of the most dramatic wins in the history of the rivalry. As a game, it offered precious little enjoyment for its first 58 minutes. As a drama, it was unmissable. As a spectacle, it was unbeatable.