How the Pac-12's latest decision impacts CSU — and why it sucks for the Ram faithful

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State fans have been waiting over two decades for the chance to host the Rocky Mountain Showdown.

Unfortunately, though, with the Pac-12 officially eliminating all non-conference games for the 2020 fall sports seasons, it’ll be closer to three decades by the time the Rams actually get to face the Buffaloes on their home turf.

As the deals are currently worked out, the nearly-annual local rivalry game will take its first hiatus this century during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. After playing in Boulder in 2023, the RMS is scheduled to return to the CSU campus in 2024.

With the 2020 matchup no longer in the picture either, however, the presumed three-year gap will now be the longest continuous break in the series since the two schools completely stopped playing from 1958-83.

For many Buffs fans, the news that CU will not have to make the trip to Canvas Stadium this season is somewhat of a blessing. Boulderites often contend that the Buffs have nothing to gain and everything to lose by participating in the matchup. So, a chance to avoid playing the Rams for an extra year is a small win — especially considering they get to renege on the last game of the contract without looking like the bad guys.

But for those that bleed green and gold, the news is obviously devastating. No matter what angle you look at it from — the players, the first-year staff, the athletic department, the fans, etc., — everyone is getting screwed by a freak situation that is completely out of their control.

The History

In the 24 years since Colorado came to Hughes Stadium in 1996, the series has predominantly been at Mile High Stadium in Denver. On the rare occasion that the game has taken place on campus, though, fans have been treated to some all-time thrillers.

Back in 2004, the Rams trailed the Buffs by 3 and had possession at CU’s 1-yard-line with 30 seconds to go (27-24). After Marcus Houston’s first attempt to win the game was stuffed at the goal line, CSU still had plenty of time to spike the football and regroup for one last play.

In the chaos of the moment, CSU’s starting QB, Justin Holland, ended up running a sweep to Tristan Walker (RB), who was tackled short of the goal line as time expired.

“We didn’t get it blocked right and ran it the wrong way,” Holland said postgame. “We didn’t have the right personnel in there. It was a terrible way to lose a game.”

Then in 2005, the Rams once again came close to upsetting “Big Brother” on the road — but one year after he made a 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, Mason Crosby drilled a 47-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock to secure a 31-28 home win for CU.

The 2005 loss was particularly frustrating because the Rams led by double digits in the second half and appeared to have the game under control. Turnovers and ill-timed miscues resulted in a missed chance to steal a game in enemy territory though. And in the end, it went down as one of the crazier CSU-CU games of the last 25 years.

Following the game, relieved CU students ended up storming the field in celebration — to which Holland questioned — “But if we’re such an underdog, why are they coming onto the field?”

Finally, the most recent on-campus meeting was in 2009. On that night, the Rams handed the Buffs a 23-17 loss at Folsom Field behind a two-touchdown performance from running back John Mosure.

Klint Kubiak, CSU’s starting free safety at the time, said in his postgame interview that winning that night was the greatest feeling the game of football had ever given him.

Disappointingly, since that 2009 victory in Boulder, CSU is just 2-8 in games against the Buffs — which is really what makes losing this home game an extra bitter pill to swallow for the Colorado State diehards.

When it comes to this rivalry, the last decade has been nothing but heartbreak and letdown for just about everyone associated with CSU. Now the Rams were finally going to have a decent chance to win in front of the home fans, and a pandemic stole their opportunity.

What’s Next

Nobody really knows what is next for college football as a whole. Will the SEC follow the Big Ten and Pac-12? If that happens, CSU will also lose a game at Vanderbilt.

What about the home matchup against Northern Colorado on Sept. 19? It’s no Rocky Mountain Showdown but the Bears are a hell of a lot more intriguing now that Eddie McCaffrey is running the show in Greeley.

The Mountain West could also decide that a league-only model is the most appropriate stance. Craig Thompson’s official statement as of Friday was the following:

“As has been the case since the onset of the pandemic, we are fully engaged with our membership and advisors on a nearly daily basis exploring the myriad of potential scenarios around returning to competition. We were aware of this possibility and will continue to evaluate the appropriate decisions and the proper timing going forward. The safety, health, and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, staff members and campuses remain our top priority.”

At this point, the only thing we know for sure is that if there is a 2020 college football season, it’s certainly not going to be a traditional one.

How the Pac-12’s decision impacts the Mountain West

CSU obviously loses a home game against the Buffs and a trip to Corvallis, Ore. for the rematch against the Beavers. The Pac-12’s decision to play a league-only model really hurts the entire Mountain West Conference though.

In total, the league will lose 13 games in 2020. Hawaii will feel the biggest impact as the Warriors are losing games against Arizona, Oregon and UCLA — after already losing their non-conference game against Howard.

But along with CSU and Hawaii, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming are all losing games against the Pac-12 as well. Most notably, the Cowboys will lose a chance to host Utah, while SDSU will miss a chance to beat UCLA for the second straight year.

How the Pac-12’s decision impacts other CSU sports

Along with the loss of two ideal football games, multiple other sports at CSU will be impacted by Friday’s news.

CSU volleyball was supposed to host USC in the season opener on Friday, Aug. 28. That match will no longer take place in 2020.

Tom Hilbert’s squad was also going to host Oregon State on Sept. 10 and then play a home-and-home with CU between Sept. 18-19. As of now, though, all three of those matches are also out of the picture.

The soccer team will also be affected by the Pac-12’s league-only model. After posting the best season in program history in 2019, the Rams were set to open 2020 against the Buffaloes in the first portion of the annual Colorado Cup.