LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys open the 2026 football season Saturday against Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the 118th edition of the Border War set for a 4 p.m. kickoff at Canvas Stadium.
The game can be heard live on the 26 stations of the Cowboy Sports Network, with Keith Kelley handling play-by-play, Kevin McKinney providing color commentary and TRN Media’s Erick Pauley reporting from the sidelines. In Sweetwater County, you can listen to the game on KUGR 104.9 FM and 1490 AM.
The game also will be televised nationally on USA Network, with Nate Gatter on the call, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf providing analysis and Lauren Green reporting from the sidelines.
Saturday marks the first time since 1964 that Wyoming has opened a season against Colorado State. The Cowboys enter their 130th season of college football with an 81-46-2 record in 129 previous season openers. Wyoming is 21-28-1 in road season openers.
The Border War is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, and Saturday’s meeting will be the 118th between the Cowboys and Rams. Wyoming is 52-60-5 all-time against Colorado State, including a 32-26 record in the Bronze Boot portion of the rivalry and a 14-13 mark in Mountain West meetings.
Wyoming enters the season with running back Samuel “Tote” Harris as one of its top returning offensive players. Harris led the Cowboys in rushing last season after running for 558 yards on 100 carries, an average of 5.6 yards per attempt. He also caught 16 passes for 184 yards.
Harris had a career-high 126 rushing yards against Colorado last season and followed that with 102 yards on just 12 carries against Fresno State. He was selected to the preseason All-Mountain West first team by Phil Steele and the second team by Athlon Sports.
Harris was named Monday to the Maxwell Award watch list, which recognizes the outstanding player in college football. He also was included on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation’s top running back.
Wyoming defensive end Esaia Bogar also was named to the Polynesian College Player of the Year Award watch list. Bogar played in 10 games with one start last season, recording 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Quarterback Tyler Hughes was named to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which recognizes FBS players for community service, academic achievement and athletic accomplishment. Hughes contributed to community outreach efforts last season, including a Boys and Girls Club camp in Casper.
Colorado State enters the game with a new head coach in Jim Mora. The Rams spent fall camp competing for the starting quarterback job between Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny and UConn transfer K’saan Farrar. Mora said the competition could extend into the opener, with the starter potentially determined during Colorado State’s first offensive series against Wyoming.
The Rams return several players with UConn ties on both sides of the ball. Colorado State’s offensive line features TCU transfer Quinton Harris at tackle, along with UConn transfers Toriyan Johnson and Diego Rodriguez. Former UConn players Mel Brown and Oliver Lundberg-Coleman are also part of the offensive unit, while tight end Juice Vereen returns as another former UConn standout.
Tyson Summers, who served as Colorado State’s interim head coach for five games last season, returns as defensive coordinator. Summers’ defense was on the field for the Rams’ 28-0 loss to Wyoming in Laramie last season. Colorado State’s defense also features UConn transfers Stephon Wright at defensive end and Oumar Diomande at linebacker.
