Both teams return most of their starters from previous year when Colorado State defeated Colorado 31-17 at this same neutral site of Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. Colorado State, meanwhile, is coming off a 10-3 season past year , but are starting over with a new head coach in Mike Bobo after Jim McElwain left for the Florida job.

A little later, 55 minutes before the scheduled 5:10 p.m. kickoff, Higgins was out warming up with the Rams. But they’re playing for the honor of hoisting the Centennial Cup. “It’s going to be a great game that not only highlights two great universities, but also showcases two progressive communities that are national leaders on sustainability and innovation”. Don’t overlook Joe Hansley, either, the dependable receiver who always seems to come up big against Colorado.

“It’s CU”, Hansley said. “Let the games begin”. Colorado State hasn’t won two in a row over Colorado since 1999-2000.

Colorado rebounded nicely after their terrible loss to open the year against Hawaii, waxing UMass 48-14 last week. This season, the better team will win, and that’s CSU. Even if the Buffs do establish a running game, they’ll at least have to be efficient in the passing game to keep the Rams honest, and that will mean giving quarterback Sefo Liufau enough time to throw.

STINGY DEFENSE: So far this season, Colorado State’s defense has yet to allow a first down in the opening quarter.

“We are lucky to have these fantastic research institutions and very competitive athletic teams in our communities”, said Troxell, a former CSU football team captain. “Have we arrived? No. …”

HOME GROWN: Colorado State boasts 51 players from the Centennial State. On the flip side, the Buffs have around three dozen players from the state, including punter Alex Kinney, who hails from Fort Collins.