Two-Year Gap Remains in Border War Football Series

LARAMIE -- Is the annual Border War in jeopardy?

The short answer is, yes.

Wyoming and Colorado State, two programs that have faced off on the football field every season since 1946, are facing a two-year gap without a guaranteed game after this year's meeting Oct. 25 inside War Memorial Stadium.

Get our free mobile app

With the latter heading off to the new-look Pac-12 after this season, the annual meeting will now be a non-conference matchup.

The schools came to a scheduling agreement last November, less than 24 hours ahead of the 116th meeting in the series. The Cowboys will travel to Fort Collins in 2028 and the teams will trade home games through 2035.

What about 2026 and '27?

"I would say it's not an easy process," Wyoming's Director of Athletics Tom Burman said in late July. "That's not impossible, at this point, but we're still working on it. (CSU's) been great. They want it as bad as we do."

John Weber said as much on Thursday.

"We will continue to work to see if there’s something we can do to keep the contiguous games going and to do it across other sports, as well," CSU's Athletics Director told The Coloradoan.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Boisterous Barnett Setting Tone in Camp, Urgency at Forefront

* Wilson's Announce $90,000 in Donations to Wyoming Non-Profits

* Wyoming Announces Game Times for Pair of Home Contests

* Pokes Practice Report: Edge Rushers Looking to Punish Passer

* Jay Sawvel: 'We'll Play Wyoming Football Again'

* Sale of Stadium Naming Rights, On-Field Ads Coming to Wyoming?

* Enock Sibomana Looking Mighty Comfortable at Middle Linebacker

* Who Will Rise To The Top in Wyoming's Running Back Room?

* Tuck's Take: 25 Observations From Fall Camp

* Pokes Practice Report: Is There Really a Kicking Competition?

* Why Hasn't Former Wyoming QB Josh Allen Returned to Laramie?

So, what's the hold up?

On the surface, this seems like an easy fix. The Rams host Southern Utah on Sept. 12, 2026 inside Canvas Stadium. Wyoming also faces an FCS program, Northern Colorado, that day in Laramie. The following fall, CSU will welcome Houston Christian to Fort Collins on Sept. 25. The Cowboys are slated to take on visiting Central Michigan.

Buy those games out and play, right?

It's not that simple.

"We're going to play six home games," Burman said bluntly. "We're not going to play five to get a CSU game. So, we're not going to walk away from home games, and that's part of one of the issues I had. Somebody asked me the other day, 'well, they play an FCS, and you play an FCS on the same weekend. Why can't you just play? Well, one of us has got to be on the road, and we need to have six home games."

A major Wyoming home football game, like the Border War, brings in roughly $1.2 million to the athletic department, said Derek Gossler, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development/Chief Revenue Officer. That number includes ticket sales, single-game parking and concessions. That figure rises substantially with sponsorships and donations factored in.

The department will release a full, detailed economic impact study in the coming weeks, Gossler added.

Weber said in the era of revenue-sharing, it's not just about raising and spending money on players.

"Part of it is saving money, too," he told The Coloradoan. "If we can have a quality game -- and when it’s our turn to play away -- if we can get on a bus versus getting on an airplane somewhere and spending the money associated with doing that, I’ll do that every single time."

What about a neutral-site game inside, say, Denver's Mile High Stadium?

"It could be, but there are downsides to that," Burman added. "I mean, CU and CSU couldn't make that work, financially. They lost money."

The Rams lead the all-time series 60-51-5, dating back to 1899. Since the Bronze Boot traveling trophy was introduced into the rivalry back in 1968, Wyoming holds a 46-33 advantage.

Dates for Contests from 2028 to 2026:

Sept. 23, 2028 in Fort Collins
Sept. 22, 2029 in Laramie
Sept. 7, 2030 in Fort Collins
Sept. 20, 2031 in Laramie
Sept. 25, 2032 in Fort Collins
Sept. 24, 2033 in Laramie
Sept. 23, 2034 in Fort Collins
Sept. 22, 2035 in Laramie

Future Non-Conference Opponents:

2025

Aug. 28, at Akron

Sept. 6, vs. Northern Iowa

Sept. 13, vs. Utah

Sept. 20, at Colorado

2026

Sept. 5, vs. North Texas

Sept. 12, vs. Northern Colorado

Sept. 19, at Central Michigan

Nov. 28, vs. UConn

2027

Sept. 4, vs. Southern Utah

Sept. 18, at North Texas

Sept. 25, vs. Central Michigan

TBA, at Utah

2028

Sept. 2, vs. Idaho State

Sept. 9, vs. Akron

Sept. 16, at Texas Tech

Sept. 23, at Colorado State

2029

Sept. 1, vs. Western Illinois

Sept. 8, vs. Cal

Sept. 15, at UConn

Sept. 22, vs. Colorado State

2030

Aug. 31, vs. Northern Colorado

Sept. 7, at Colorado State

Sept. 14, at Arizona

Sept. 21, vs. North Texas

2031

Sept. 20, vs. Colorado State

2032

Sept. 4, at Cal

Sept. 11, vs. Cal Poly

Sept. 18, vs. New Mexico State

Sept. 25, at Colorado State

2033

Sept. 17, vs. Arizona

Sept. 24, vs. Colorado State

2034

Sept. 23, at Colorado State

2035

Sept. 22, vs. Colorado State

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Wyoming Running Back Max White 'All Go and No Whoa'

* Nate Geiger is Back in Action, Again Battling for Starting Gig

* Pokes Practice Report: Laying the Lumber in Laramie

* Wyoming to Allot $2.8 Million After Opting In To House Settlement

* Pokes, Sawvel Kick Off 2025 Season on North 40 Practice Fields

* Wyoming's Jack Walsh Lands on Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List

* Pokes Practice Report: Corners Tasked With 'Changing The Narrative'

* Two Wyoming Defensive Tackles Out For Season With Injury

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players