The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Rumble in the Rockies

Colorado33-37-3Utah
Regional Program II#94 of 138–Power Program II#20 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Utah leads the all-time series 37-33-3. They've met 73 times since 1903. Utah once took 9 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Colorado
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +27
What fans are saying · coaching decision
One fan believes the coaching staff is making poor in-game decisions
this dumbass coaching staff has genuinely made me lose brain cells. what in the fuck was that timeout
Verified verbatim
Utah
Win total
10.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-6
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -14
What fans are saying · rivalry
One fan believes Utah-BYU games have intense emotional weight
that rivalry was/is so UNBELIEVABLY toxic + hate filled that conference standing stakes were COMPLETELY unnecessary for both schools to care about that game more than literally any other on their respective schedules.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1903–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeColoradoUtahevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Colorado won, gray: Utah won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Colorado has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Colorado led 19 and Utah led 4.

more passmore runColoradoUtah2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262023Colorado 20.1 ptsUtah won 23-172014Colorado 14.6 ptsUtah won 38-342019Colorado 13.3 ptsUtah won 45-15
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Colorado by 54 in 1951. The biggest crowd, 54,646, was in 2024.

The coaching duels

Dallas Ward vs Jack Curtice7-0-1
Jim Yeager vs Ike Armstrong2-4
Mike MacIntyre vs Kyle Whittingham1-4
Bunny Oakes vs Ike Armstrong3-0-1
Frank Potts vs Ike Armstrong2-1
Dallas Ward vs Ike Armstrong1-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
152-99
Colorado leads
1st-rounders
23-11
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
ColoradoUtah
1960s4-4
1970s39-3
1980s14-7
1990s46-10
2000s26-23
2010s15-32
2020s8-20

Best picks, either side

2005Alex Smith Quarterback · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2025Travis Hunter Cornerback · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1974Bo Matthews Running Back · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1995Michael Westbrook Wide Receiver · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1974J.V. Cain Tight End · St. Louis CardinalsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1980Mark Haynes Defensive Back · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
2003Jordan Gross Offensive Tackle · Carolina PanthersRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
2026Spencer Fano Offensive Tackle · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 9#9 overall

Recent meetings

2026Utah27-24Colorado — decided by 3
2025Utah53-7
2024Colorado49-24
2023Utah23-17
2022Utah63-21
2021Utah28-13
2020Utah38-21
2019Utah45-15
2018Utah30-7
2017Utah34-13
2016Colorado27-22Utah — both ranked
2015Utah20-14
2014Utah38-34
2013Utah24-17

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Colorado’s chance to win through that meeting. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2022. The bracket marks where.

2026Utah 27-24Colorado lost 24-27 vs Utah. Chance to win started at 19%, low under 1%, high 47%.Busy
2025Utah 53-7Colorado lost 7-53 at Utah. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 12%.Busy
2024Colorado 49-24Colorado won 49-24 vs Utah. Chance to win started at 73%, low 71%, high better than 99%.
2023Utah 23-17Colorado lost 17-23 at Utah. Chance to win started at 9%, low 1%, high 13%.Busy
2022Utah 63-21Colorado lost 21-63 vs Utah. Chance to win started at 3%, low under 1%, high 7%.Steady
2021Utah 28-13Colorado lost 13-28 at Utah. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 21%.
2020Utah 38-21Colorado lost 21-38 vs Utah. Chance to win started at 33%, low under 1%, high 74%.
2019Utah 45-15Colorado lost 15-45 at Utah. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 22%.
2018Utah 30-7Colorado lost 7-30 vs Utah. Chance to win started at 48%, low under 1%, high 76%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Ok so now IW pick 6?”
    A Utah fan
  • 2025
    “Did that say -8 TOTAL yards?”
    A fan of another team

This season’s plays, Colorado and Utah

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 9 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q3, 1:06 · Utah down 4, takes the leadDevon Dampier finds Braden Pegan for a 16-yard touchdownUtah at Colorado, week 7Q3, 1:06 · Utah 20, Colorado 17▲20%Utah’s chance to win, 60% to 80%▲20%Utah’s chance to win, 60% to 80%D.Dampier pass complete short right to B.Pegan caught at COLO00, for 16 yards to the COLO00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this play Big 12 Conference
  2. Q3, 9:45 · Colorado down 6, takes the leadDekalon Taylor runs 18 yards for a touchdownUtah at Colorado, week 7Q3, 9:45 · Colorado 14, Utah 13Go-ahead score for Colorado in the third quarterGo-ahead score for Colorado in the third quarterD.Taylor rush right for 18 yards gain to the UTAH00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this play Big 12 Conference
  3. Q3, 7:52 · Utah down 1Naeten Mitchell intercepts Devon Dampier and returns it 20 yardsUtah at Colorado, week 7Q3, 7:52 · Utah 13, Colorado 143Utah’s turnover led to a field goal3Utah’s turnover led to a field goalUtah’s turnover led to a field goalD.Dampier pass intercepted by N.Mitchell at COLO45 QB hurried by S.Hopper N.Mitchell return 20 yards to the UTAH35 (D.Dampier)Watch from this play Big 12 Conference
  4. Q4, 5:09 · Colorado down 3James Chenault intercepts Isaac Wilson and returns it 30 yardsUtah at Colorado, week 7Q4, 5:09 · Colorado 17, Utah 20James Chenault's 5th career interceptionJames Chenault's 5th career interceptionI.Wilson pass intercepted by J.Chenault Jr. at UTAH48 J.Chenault Jr. return 30 yards to the COLO22 (S.Kinney)Watch from this play Big 12 Conference
  5. Q4, 3:43 · Utah up 3Devon Dampier finds Braden Pegan for a 6-yard touchdownUtah at Colorado, week 7Q4, 3:43 · Utah 27, Colorado 17Devon Dampier's third touchdown pass of the gameDevon Dampier's third touchdown pass of the gameD.Dampier pass complete short middle to B.Pegan caught at COLO00, for 6 yards to the COLO00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this play Big 12 Conference
  6. Q1, 9:39 · Utah tiedDevon Dampier finds Hunter Andrews for an 8-yard touchdownUtah at Colorado, week 7Q1, 9:39 · Utah 7, Colorado 0Utah opened the scoringUtah opened the scoringD.Dampier pass complete short right to H.Andrews caught at COLO02, for 8 yards to the COLO00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, penalty COLO Illegal Substitution declined, kick goodWatch from this play Big 12 Conference