No matter how good the football is, the Front Range is never at a loss for postcard-perfect scenes at college campuses across the region\u00a0on autumn Saturday afternoons.<\/p>\n
Which helps explain why it\u2019s so darn difficult to plan a road trip through the area\u2019s inimitable college football venues over the course of a season. Making that task even more challenging this year? The number of fascinating subplots that hover over each program.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a week-by-week planner for local college football fans to see which teams have the right answers for all of the uncertainty:<\/p>\n
Week 1 (Aug. 28-Sept. 1)<\/p>\n
West Texas A&M at Western Colorado<\/p>\n
When: Aug. 28, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Mountaineer Bowl, Gunnison<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (for an adult, via Western Colorado athletics): $10<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The co-preseason favorites in the RMAC have All-America quarterback Drew Nash on offense and the reigning conference player of the year on the other side of the ball in pass-rushing dynamo Ricky Freymond.<\/p>\n
Georgia Tech at Colorado<\/p>\n
When: Aug. 29, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (via SeatGeek): $99<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: Deion Sanders\u2019 new-look Buffaloes get the national spotlight in their season opener on a Friday night. If only these two schools could\u2019ve set this up back in 1990, when CU and Georgia Tech split the national championship.<\/p>\n
Week 2 (Sept. 4-6)<\/p>\n
Northern Colorado at Colorado State<\/p>\n
When: Sept. 6, 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Canvas Field, Fort Collins<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $49<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Rams might be smarting from a season-opening trip to Washington and need a get-right game. The Bears had just one win in Ed Lamb\u2019s first two seasons, but should be 1-0 after D-II Chadron State visits Greeley.<\/p>\n
Week 3 (Sept. 11-13)<\/p>\n
Utah at Wyoming<\/p>\n
When: Sept. 13, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $114<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Cowboys have been giant killers at 7,200 feet before, though the Utes look like Big 12 contenders. Expect an incredible atmosphere between these two former WAC rivals.<\/p>\n
Week 4 (Sept. 18-20)<\/p>\n
Boise State at Air Force<\/p>\n
When: Sept. 20, 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Falcon Stadium, Air Force Academy<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $32<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: Wyoming at Colorado is a fun local tilt, but even without Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos look like the class of the Mountain West and possibly a College Football Playoff team again.<\/p>\n
Week 5 (Sept. 25-27)<\/p>\n
BYU at Colorado<\/p>\n
When: Sept. 27, 8:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $161<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: CSU has a fun future Pac-12 measuring stick game with Washington State in Fort Collins, but this will be a big one under the lights in Boulder. The Cougars smacked around the Buffs in the Alamo Bowl last December, but\u00a0do they have a quarterback?<\/p>\n
Week 6 (Oct. 2-4)<\/p>\n
Colorado Mesa at Colorado School of Mines<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 4, noon<\/p>\n
Where: Marv Kay Stadium, Golden<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (via Colorado School of Mines athletics): $5<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Orediggers should be 4-0, but this will be the first big test of Bob Stitt\u2019s second stint in charge. The Mavericks\u2019 fourth-quarter comeback win in Grand Junction last year was the beginning of the end of Mines\u2019 RMAC dynasty.<\/p>\n
Week 7 (Oct. 9-11)<\/p>\n
Fresno State at Colorado State<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 10, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $39<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Rams didn\u2019t beat any of the top-four teams on their schedule last year, including the Bulldogs. This game could determine if they are going to be Mountain West contenders.<\/p>\n
Iowa State at Colorado<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 11, TBA<\/p>\n
Where: Folsom Stadium, Boulder<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $109<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Cyclones should be a contender in the Big 12 this season, and one of the two best teams that visit Boulder. These programs used to play annually in the old Big 12, and the Buffs (49-1-15) dominated.<\/p>\n
Week 8 (Oct. 16-18)<\/p>\n
Wyoming at Air Force<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Falcon Stadium, Air Force Academy<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $28<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: Both of these teams will be smack in the middle of brutal stretches. Air Force is at Navy and UNLV before this, while the Cowboys will be fresh off a month of Utah, Colorado, UNLV and San Jose State.<\/p>\n
Week 9 (Oct. 23-25)<\/p>\n
Colorado State at Wyoming<\/p>\n
When: Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $65<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: The Rams prevailed last year, but the Cowboys have won seven of the past nine Border War skirmishes. An added bit of motivation for the Pokes: This is the last time the Bronze Boot will be up for grabs before the Rams head off to the Pac-12.<\/p>\n
Week 10 (Oct. 30-Nov. 1)<\/p>\n
Army at Air Force<\/p>\n
When: Nov. 1, 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Falcon Stadium, Air Force Academy<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $51<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: This looks like the best Saturday of the year. There\u2019s a potential RMAC title showdown between CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado in Gunnison. FCS contender Montana State comes to Greeley. But a Commander-in-Chief\u2019s Trophy tilt, on campus at AFA, should be a thriller.<\/p>\n
Week 11 (Nov. 6-8)<\/p>\n
UNLV at Colorado State<\/p>\n
When: Nov. 8, TBA<\/p>\n
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $39<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: UNLV has a new coach (Dan Mullen) and practically a new roster, but the Rebels are expected to be Boise State\u2019s top competition in the Mountain West once again.<\/p>\n
Week 12 (Nov. 13-15)<\/p>\n
Chadron State at CSU Pueblo<\/p>\n
When: Nov. 15, 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: Thunderbowl, Pueblo<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (Via CSU Pueblo athletics): $8<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: If the ThunderWolves beat Western Colorado in Gunnison, this could wrap up an RMAC title. The Mountaineers are also at home, against Colorado Mesa.<\/p>\n
Week 13 (Nov. 20-22)<\/p>\n
Arizona State at Colorado<\/p>\n
When: Nov. 22, TBA<\/p>\n
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $107<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: If this game has real stakes, then Year 3 of the Deion Era will be considered an unqualified success. The Sun Devils were a CFP surprise last year, but won\u2019t sneak up on anyone in 2025.<\/p>\n
Week 14 (Nov. 27-29)<\/p>\n
Air Force at Colorado State<\/p>\n
When: Nov. 28, TBA<\/p>\n
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins<\/p>\n
Lowest get-in price as of Week 1 (SeatGeek): $38<\/p>\n
Why you can\u2019t miss it: A Black Friday finale. Could this be the last time these two match up for the Ram-Falcon Trophy? With the Rams off to the Pac-12, there are zero future dates on the schedule.<\/p>\n