The Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes will clash in the 71st edition of the “Rumble in the Rockies” in their fourth shared conference. With both programs joining the Big 12 and the Buffaloes playing for conference superiority, this latest chapter brings added weight to a rivalry that shows no signs of slowing down.
Utah vs. Colorado: What Is the Rumble in the Rockies?
From 1903 to 1962, Colorado and Utah squared off 57 times, missing only a few years in between. For nearly four decades, the two teams shared conference ties, first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (1910–1937) and later in the Mountain States Athletic Conference (1938–1947).
During this period, they were the powerhouses of their leagues, with either Utah or Colorado claiming at least a share of the conference title in 27 of those 38 seasons.
In 1948, Colorado joined the Big Eight (then the Big Seven), leaving Utah behind and transitioning the rivalry to a sporadic non-conference affair. The two schools met nearly every year until 1962, when a 49-year hiatus began.
However, their most memorable clash in this era came in 1961. Unranked Utah pulled off a stunning 21-12 upset over No. 8 Colorado, derailing the Buffs’ hopes for an undefeated season. Utah triumphed again in 1962 before the rivalry went quiet for almost half a century.
When Colorado and Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, the “Rumble in the Rockies” was reborn, though Utah took control, winning 11 of the 13 matchups and the last seven straight.
Now in the Big 12, the Buffs are where the Utes were projected to be — on pace for the conference title game. Utah’s suffered several major injuries throughout the year, including to their top three QBs — Cameron Rising, Sam Huard, and Brandon Rose — resulting in a 4-5 record.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Unless the Utes are able to magically turn the season around under true freshman Isaac Wilson, they’re staring down the barrel of their first losing campaign since 2013.
On the flip side, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, QB Sheduer Sanders, and two-way superstar Travis Hunter are 7-2, 5-1 in the conference, and three games away from the Big 12 Championship in their first year in the league.
While Utah hopes to play spoiler in Week 12, head coach Kyle Whittingham understands securing a win is a tall task for his program.
“They arguably have one of the best players in college football, maybe the best, in (Travis) Hunter. He’s tremendous. The quarterback’s outstanding. They’re playing really good football … They’re well-coached; Coach Sanders is doing a great job, and his staff have made a lot of adjustments and improvements over last year. They’re much better at the line of the scrimmage on both sides of the ball. So we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Coach Prime has nothing but respect for the coach across from him as well, singing Whittingham’s praises before last year’s edition of the rivalry game.
“He’s a legend, man. He’s a darn legend. He’s a guy that I truly respect. I truly admire. I truly glean from afar — I don’t really know him personally. I met him once, I think, at the Pac-12 meetings. But he’s a darn legend, man. And his consistency and persistence speaks volumes. I love what he’s doing with that program. I love what he’s done with that program.”
As Colorado surges toward a potential Big 12 title game berth and Utah looks to salvage its season, the Rumble in the Rockies remains as fierce as ever.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.