BYU-Colorado State at 70: A look back at the most memorable games
Sep 18, 2026, 2:00 AM
PROVO — Former Mountain West rivals take the field together this Saturday for the first time since 2010, when the Cougars will face off against Colorado State on Saturday night.
A series that dates all the way back to 1922, BYU leads the all-time series against the Rams 39-27-3 and holds a seven-game winning streak. These two teams haven’t met since the Cougars left the Mountain West and became an FBS Independent back in 2011, and will play each other after announcing a home-and-home series in 2024.
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BYU will travel to Fort Collins this weekend and host Colorado State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 8, 2029.
These two schools will finally reignite a decades-long rivalry that spanned two conferences, as both teams played together in the WAC and Mountain West from 1968-2011.
In honor of the 70th meeting between the two schools, here is a look back at five of the most memorable matchups in the series’ history.
5. 1995 – BYU 28, Colorado State 21
After losing the matchup the previous season, the Cougars would get their revenge in Fort Collins with a 28-21 victory of their own. BYU got out to a 28-6 lead in the fourth quarter before a late rally from Colorado State made things a little too close for comfort.
Steve Sarkisian threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns with Hema Heimuli bringing in four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown for a total of 109 yards of offense.
4. 1984 – BYU 52, Colorado State 9
On their way to the school’s undefeated and legendary 1984 season, the Cougars would have to get past their longtime foe during their national championship season.
In an absolute drubbing of the Rams, BYU put together a balanced attack, throwing for 384 yards and rushing for another 232. Robbie Bosco totaled 246 yards through the air with two touchdowns, and backup Blaine Fowler totaled 138 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Four different players ran for a touchdown, including Bosco, and Kelly Smith hauled in six passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars defense held Colorado State to just 231 yards of offense and allowed just one touchdown.
Yes, the game itself wasn’t competitive, but with this being arguably the best team in BYU history, it’s hard to keep them off this list.
3. 1994 – Colorado State 28, BYU 21
Not everything can go BYU’s way, and that includes this 1994 matchup. An unranked Rams team knocked off the No. 22-ranked Cougars in Provo before going on to finish at the top of the WAC standings with a 7-1 record and a 10-2 record overall.
BYU finished the 1994 season 10-3 and ranked two spots behind Colorado State, which finished No. 16 in the Top 25.
The Cougars entered the fourth quarter trailing by 11 points and would see their comeback fall short after failing to recover an onside kick with just over a minute to play. It was a performance that quarterback John Walsh would want to forget after the signal caller threw four interceptions.
Walsh threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns, but the Rams took advantage of the interceptions to snap a six-game losing streak to BYU.
2. 1987 – BYU 30, Colorado State 26
Nicknamed the “Melbourne Gridiron Bowl,” the Cougars and Rams traveled to Australia to play the regular season finale on Dec. 5, 1987, at Princes Park in Melbourne. BYU held off Colorado State to secure the international win as part of a 9-4 season, while the Rams finished 1-11.
The game itself was played on a field not meant for American football with its primary purpose being used for rugby and Australian Rules Football. With just a crowd of just 7,652, the Cougars were able to cap off the regular season – and the hectic trip to Australia – with a win.
Quarterback Sean Covey threw two touchdown passes to running back Matt Bellini while also taking one in on the ground to power BYU to a 7-1 conference record in the WAC.
1. 2008 – BYU 45, Colorado State 42
One of the most high-scoring games of the series came in 2008 when the Cougars defeated Colorado State 45-42 thanks to a game-winning touchdown drive orchestrated by quarterback Max Hall.
BYU’s offense was firing on all cylinders in this matchup as Hall threw for 389 yards and five touchdowns, with the duo of Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta combining for 331 yards and all five touchdown passes from Hall.
Pitta racked up 12 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns, with Collie adding 156 yards on nine receptions and three touchdowns. Harvey Unga totaled 133 yards rushing with a score on the ground.
Rams quarterback Billy Farris was effective as well, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in this back-and-forth affair.
Hall’s 17-yard strike to Pitta with just 22 seconds remaining would be the difference in the most exciting game between these two schools.
No. 11 BYU at Colorado State
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)
TV/Stream: CBS
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM) — Extended pregame begins at Noon (MDT)
