The CSU-Air Force football rivalry may be nearing an end as Pac-12 transition looms

AIR FORCE ACADEMY – Fueled by pride, passion and pageantry, rivalries have long fueled college football. But as conference realignment continues to change the landscape, rivalries are an endangered species.

That's probably true in the decade-long showdown between Colorado State and Air Force.

The two teams met for the 62nd time Saturday night at Falcon Stadium, where the Rams had not won since 2022. But with CSU leaving the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-12 in 2026, Saturday could well be the Rams' last academy game in quite some time. The two teams will play in Fort Collins next season.

However, CSU athletic director John Weber said predicting the demise of the Ram-Falcon Trophy or the “Border War” game between Wyoming and CSU that decides the Bronze Boot was “presumptuous.”

“We honestly don’t know if it’s the end of an era,” Weber said. “There's a lot we have to work through. And we have an even more historic rivalry with Wyoming. It’s always been played.”

In fact, the teams first played in 1899 and have met every season since 1946. Only 12 times in the last 125 years have CSU and Wyoming not played each other in football.

Air Force AD ​​Nathan Pine is aware that the Falcons' rivalry with the Rams could be nearing its end, but he also pointed out that the situation is fluid across college football, meaning that things can change quickly.

“It’s changing,” he said. “We have solidified the Mountain West and will have eight schools when the five schools leave. So there's a little bit of clarity, but I don't know if anyone's finished yet.

“Let's be honest. I don't know if conference realignment will ever slow down. We may be stagnant for a while now, but I have been in this business for a long time and we can be confident that there will be realignments in the conference.”

These seismic shifts are why the CSU-AFA rivalry could play out like Colorado-Nebraska, with only sporadic showdowns.

“I can't say much right now because we're still figuring out, 'What does it look like for us in the Pac-12?'” said Weber, whose Rams are in the Mountain West along with Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State will leave to join Oregon State and Washington State in the Pac-12.

“A lot will depend on the conference and its members when it comes to what our non-conference schedule will look like. First, we will focus on maximizing media value for the member institutions of this conference.”

Weber outlined two scenarios.

“Suppose we end up with just eight full-time members playing football in the Pac-12?” he said. “That means we will have seven conference games and five non-conference games.

“If that's the case, there will be a lot of wiggle room to see whether we do something with Wyoming or with the Air Force. Or can we play more games against Colorado than are currently on our (future) schedule?”

The second scenario would limit the Rams' schedule flexibility starting in 2026.

“For example, if we have 10 conference members playing football, that means we have nine conference games and we would have only had three open spots for non-conference games. That makes it more difficult.”

However, Air Force has less leeway in scheduling non-conference opponents because it faces Army and Navy every year.

“No matter what conference we are in, if it makes sense with our schedule and there is local interest, we would definitely look to schedule games against CSU or CU,” Pine said. “Of course it has to make sense for both schools.

“These are fan bases that have historic rivalries and want to see these games. And we have to look at it through that lens. But it can never be a decision made in the moment or in the emotions of what is happening.”

The CSU's appointments outside of the conference are quickly booked up. In 2026, the Rams are scheduled to play Indiana, Southern Utah, BYU and Texas-San Antonio. In 2027, Arizona, Sam Houston, Wisconsin and Houston Baptist are CSU's non-conference opponents.

The Air Force's future schedule is even tighter.

Weber said he understands the importance of keeping traditions alive.

“Rivalries are part of what makes college football the entertaining spectacle that it is,” he said. “These games (against Air Force, Wyoming and CU) are all games that are important to their fan base and important to ours.”

The dilemma facing Colorado's intrastate rivalries is not an isolated case. Texas and Texas A&M have played each other 118 times, but not since 2011. With both teams now in the SEC, their rivalry is renewed on Thanksgiving Day.