If Coach Prime has you thinking that Boulder, and not Athens, Ga., is the epicenter of the college football universe, he might not be wrong.
But the potential narratives around the Front Range run wilder than Ralphie at full tilt. Within 75 miles of downtown Denver, you can watch Deion Sanders in person (for a price), the defending Division II national runners-up and more live mascots per capita than an Animal Planet marathon.
Heck, if you wanted to plan a road trip of just Front Range games between now and Thanksgiving, there’s something for just about everybody each and every week. Want to check out the reigning winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II Heisman? Mines quarterback John Matocha is back slinging it in Golden. Dig trophy games? CSU is playing in two of them over back-to-back weekends.
To that end, the Denver Post sports staff has laid out a planner for a drivable 2023 college football tour of Front Range games over the next few months — although with a couple of side notes to get out of the way first.
First, while September is loaded with cool local options, November … isn’t. Secondly, and on the plus side, the NCAA’s Division II playoffs are almost certain to include at least one in-state representative and will get underway the weekend of Nov. 18.
As the song goes, check your local listings. In the meantime, though, let’s hit the road!
Week 1 (Aug. 31-Sept. 2)
CSU vs. Washington State
When: 5 p.m., Sept. 2.
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $36
Why you can’t miss it: Jay Norvell’s Rams have had payback on their minds, and their lips, for the last 10 months. Wazzu blitzed CSU by 31 points last September in Pullman, so we’ll find out just how far the Rammies have come in Norvell’s second season right from the jump.
Week 2 (Sept. 7-9)
CU vs. Nebraska
When: 10 a.m., Sept. 9
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $260
Why you can’t miss it: Come on. Do you even need to ask?
Week 3 (Sept. 14-16)
CU vs. CSU
When: 8 p.m., Sept. 16
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $128
Why you can’t miss it: See Week 2. First Rocky Mountain Showdown in four years (thanks, COVID). First Rams visit to Boulder in 14 years. While the Buffs are riding a five-game win streak in the series, and the last two Showdowns (’18 and ’19) have gotten fairly ugly, Rams fans are hoping to spring a trap on Big Brother: CSU gets a bye before this one while the Buffs are busy entertaining the Huskers (and Nebraska fans).
Week 4 (Sept. 21-23)
CSU Pueblo vs. Mines
When: 2 p.m., Sept. 23
Where: ThunderBowl, Pueblo
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (for an adult, via CSU Pueblo athletics): $9
Why you can’t miss it: The two best teams in the Rocky Mountain Conference — and two of Division II’s elite gridiron programs — also happen to be one of the best local options during a wild weekend, given that CU is at Oregon; CSU is at Middle Tennessee; and UNC is visiting Cody Hawkins’ squad at Idaho State. The Orediggers have won six of the last eight in the series, including four straight, and haven’t lost to CSU Pueblo on the road since 2017.
Week 5 (Sept. 28-30)
CU vs. USC
When: TBD, Sept. 30
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $128
Why you can’t miss it: CU has never beaten USC in football. Deion Sanders has never faced USC as a head coach. Lincoln Riley vs. Coach Prime is going to have the networks salivating, even if the Buffs happen to be 1-4 or 0-5 going into the weekend. And they shouldn’t be.
Week 6 (Oct. 5-7)
Wyoming vs. Fresno State
When: TBD, Oct. 7
Where: Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $20
Why you can’t miss it: The Pokes haven’t beaten the ‘Dogs since 2014. They haven’t scored a touchdown on Fresno since 2017. And they haven’t won a game in this series in Laramie since 1996. Something’s gotta give, right?
Week 7 (Oct. 12-14)
CU vs. Stanford
When: 8 p.m., Oct. 13
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $142
Why you can’t miss it: Welcome to Friday the 13th, under the lights, and welcome to what might be the only home Pac-12 game in which the Buffs are actually the favorites going in.
Week 8 (Oct. 19-21)
Western Colorado vs. New Mexico Highlands
When: 1 p.m., Oct. 21
Where: Mountaineer Bowl, Gunnison
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (for an adult, via Western Colorado athletics): $10
Why you can’t miss it: Western wideout Victory David is a threat to take it to the house — and get you out of your seat — every time he touches the rock. The Nevada speedster, who also ran track for the Mountaineers as a freshman and sophomore, led the RMAC last fall in kick return average (32.0) and longest return (100 yards).
Week 9 (Oct. 26-28)
CSU vs. Air Force
When: 5 p.m., Oct. 28
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $31
Why you can’t miss it: Good news for Rams faithful? Over the last 20 tussles in the rivalry, dating back to 2002, whenever CSU scores at least 28 points, it’s got a 5-1 record in the series. Less good? CSU’s managed to hit that mark just three times since 2010 and has averaged just 18.3 points vs. the Zoomies over its last four meetings.
Week 10 (Nov. 2-4)
CSU at Wyoming
When: 5 p.m., Nov. 3
Where: Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $27
Why you can’t miss it: Because even if Norvell and Wyo coach Craig Bohl seem to like each other, their respective fan bases absolutely, unequivocally, do not. And never, ever will.
Air Force vs. Army
When: 12:30 p.m., Nov. 4
Where: Empower Field at Mile High
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $40
Why you can’t miss it: Two games in one weekend? Well, when the service academies meet at the Broncos’ stadium — an Empower Field first — with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy potentially on the line, that’s a can’t miss.
Week 11 (Nov. 9-11)
CU vs. Arizona
When: TBD, Nov. 11
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $48
Why you can’t miss it: You like points? You like tempo? This might be the game for you. New Buffs offensive coordinator Sean Lewis ran an average of 75.1 plays per game last fall at Kent State, while Arizona coach Jedd Fisch snapped it 70 times per tilt. First one to 30 points wins.
Week 12 (Nov. 16-18)
CSU vs. Nevada
When: 1 p.m., Nov. 18
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (VividSeats.com): $26
Why you can’t miss it: If things break right, CSU could have a chance to lock down bowl eligibility in its home finale. If things don’t, well, at least Rams fans can express their love for Wolf Pack coach Ken Wilson in person, especially if he goes after Norvell during pregame again.
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