Rocky Mountain Showdown: A look back at the history of the rivalry in photos

The Rocky Mountain Showdown returns on Saturday, September 16, 2023, to Folsom Field in Boulder. This is the 92nd meeting between the Colorado State Rams and the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The No. 18 Buffs look to take a sixth straight win and their 10th in the teams' last 11 meetings. Though CU is riding the wave of success behind head coach Deion Sanders after wins against TCU and Nebraska, the ranked team in the past six meetings is 0-6. (Denver Post file)

Past and then-present CSU football players John Hammond (second from left) and Dr. Floyd Cross joined Tom Robinson (left) and Doug Endres at ceremonies Monday, May 9, 1967 signaling the start of construction on new 30,000-seat football stadium to be located west of main campus. The stadium, later known as Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, would not host a game between CSU and the University of Colorado Buffaloes until October 3, 1987 – a 29-16 win for CU. The Rams defeated New Mexico 49–31 during the team’s last game at the field on November 19, 2016 before moving to their modern on-campus facility, Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. (Denver Post file)

Colorado State Rams player John Ivlov eludes University of Colorado Buffaloes defender Greg Lindsey on his way to scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of No. 12 CU’s 37-17 win on September 6, 1992 in Boulder. The victory was the fourth of an eight-win streak by the Buffs – tied for the second longest run in the series. From 1934 to 1947 the Buffs rattled off 12 straight wins. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)

OCTOBER 4, 1987: University of Colorado Buffaloes defenders Michael Jones, Mickey Pruitt and Rodney Rogers put on a big hit on Colorado State Rams running back Tony Carr during CU’s 29-16 in Fort Collins. The win was the first of eight straight for CU spanning from 1987 until CSU’s 42-14 upset win over No. 14 CU on September 4, 1999. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo By Damian Strohmeyer/The Denver Post)

Head Coach Sonny Lubick of the Colorado State Rams gets soaked by his team during the post-game interviews after CSU’s 28-24 win over the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes on September 2, 2000 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 28-24. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2000’s Showdown was the third of six straight that saw one of the two teams ranked. They split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo by Rodolfo Ganzales/Allsport)

CSU fans create a sea of green in the stands at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Showdown between the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams at Invesco Field at Mile High on Saturday, September 1, 2007. The Buffs prevailed 31-28 in an overtime classic. Since the FBS instituted overtime in 1995, the Rams and Buffs have played overtime just twice – both three-point wins for CU. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)

CU fans create a sea of yellow in the stands at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Showdown between the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, September 1, 2007, at Invesco Field at Mile High. The Buffs prevailed 31-28 in an overtime classic. Since the FBS instituted overtime in 1995, the Rams and Buffs have played overtime just twice – both three-point wins for CU. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)

The University of Colorado Buffaloes upset the No. 24 Colorado State University Rams 41-14 on September 1, 2001. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2001’s Showdown was the third of six that saw the one of the two teams ranked. split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

University of Colorado head coach Gary Barnett acknowledges the crowd in celebration after defeating the Colorado State Rams 27-24 to win the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Folsom Field on Saturday, September 4, 2004. The game was third in a six-game streak won by a single possession between the two familiar foes. The run of tightly-contested games ended when CU beat CSU 38-17 on August 31, 2008. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Wide receiver Dustin Osborn (85) of the Colorado State University Rams makes a pass reception while defended by Akarika Dawn (12) of the University of Colorado Buffaloes on September 4, 2004 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. The Buffaloes defeated the Rams 27-24. The game was the third in a series of six that ended by a final score margin of one possession. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The University of Colorado Buffaloes watch the game against the No. 24 Colorado State University Rams at Invesco Field at Mile High on August 30, 2003 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado defeated Colorado State 42-35. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2003’s Showdown was the sixth of six straight that saw one of the two teams ranked. They split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt of the No. 24 ranked CSU Rams is greeted in the end zone by running back Rahsaan Sanders (3) and tight end Matt Bartz (92) after Van Pelt scored the game’s first touchdown during the CU Buffs’ 42-35 win on August 30, 2003. The series has seen one of the teams ranked in the head-to-head matchup 11 times with the unranked opponent winning each of the past 6. 2003’s Showdown was the sixth of six straight that saw one of the two teams ranked. They split the series 3-3 in what could be considered the golden age of the rivalry. CU enters the 2023 matchup at Boulder ranked No. 18, while the Rams are 0-1. (Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)

CU's head coach Jon Embree leaves the field after CU loses the ball in the third quarter and it is run back for a CSU touchdown. The ball was later called back and down at the one yard line by CU. The University of Colorado football team takes on Colorado State University for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post

CU's Derrick Webb sacks CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.<!--IPTC: CU's Derrick Webb (1) takes down CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson (18) for a sack in the third quarter. The University of Colorado football team takes on Colorado State University for the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: September 15, 2023 at 6:00 AM MDT | UPDATED: September 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM MDT

Getting your player ready...

When the University of Colorado pummeled Colorado Agricultural College 70-6 on February 10, 1893, they laid a foundation. Now, 130 years and 91 meetings later, the two longtime rivals will revive their traditional matchup after a four-year layoff – the longest since the series was put on hold from 1958-1983.

In recent years, the Rocky Mountain Showdown has seen wins for both teams, though that hasn’t always been the case. Colorado’s win total now sits at 67, while Colorado State University has managed just 22 – seven of them coming in the past 21 meetings since 1999. Before 1999, CU rattled off eight straight wins spanning 1987-98. CSU’s lone success during the dominant Buffs’ run in the 1980s and 90s – not counting the 1999 win – was a 23-7 victory at Boulder on Sept. 6, 1986.

Saturday’s matchup in Boulder will be the 11th time one of the two teams has been ranked in the AP top 25 as CU (2-0), led by head coach Deion Sanders, is ranked No. 18, while CSU (0-1) searches for their first win. Unranked teams in the series hold a slight edge with a 6-5 record. The five ranked wins are all favor CU.

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PHOTOS: A look back at the history of the Rocky Mountain Showdown

The No. 18 CU Buffs will host the Colorado State Rams Saturday for this year’s matchup

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