Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes: Resurrection of a Rivalry

The newly coined "Rumble in the Rockies" between the Utah Utes and the Colorado Buffaloes will be a Black Friday game at 1:30 p.m., mountain time. This storied rivalry has been dormant since 1962. The Buffaloes lead the series 30-24-3.

Both Utah and Colorado find themselves in an awkward situation in November. Utah should be playing Brigham Young and Colorado should be playing Nebraska. But conference affiliations have changed all that. Now CU and UU are staring each other down this weekend.

Utah, at 7-4, is bowl eligible and is playing for a Pac-12 South division spot in the inaugural Pacific-12 Championship. That's due, in part, to Southern California being ineligible for postseason play.

Colorado is playing for pride and a third win to build momentum for next season.

CU, like any other Pac-12 school, cannot be overlooked. On any given Saturday, one Pac-12 team can come in and upset another. Such is a BCS league. Utah beat Wazzu by a field goal in OT, 30-27.

The Buffs have their offensive weapons, such as Rodney Stewart—who has had one heck of a good year in spite of the win-loss records—OG Ryan Miller and QB Tyler Hansen are ever improving each game and are real threats on offense.

See the CU stats here.

The Utes have RB John White IV, who has already rushed 1,000-plus yards this season. QB Jon Hays has developed in each and every game he's played since taking over for the injured Jordan Wynn. Brian Blechen is outstanding at safety.

See Utah stats here.

Snow or shine, the Black Friday game should be an interesting one.

Final score: Utah 35, CU 24

Interesting Factoids

Utah and Colorado are the only Rocky Mountain schools in the Pac-12.

Colorado is the only Pac-12 school east of the Continental Divide.

Colorado is the highest Pac-12 school in elevation, at 5,300 feet above sea level.

Utah is the only Pac-12 school that borders the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado is the only Pac-12 school overlooking the Great Plains.

Both Utah and Colorado campuses are in the foothills of the Rockies.

Ute Indians (Utah's namesake) hunted Buffalo (Colorado's name sake).

Utah is second only behind CU in elevation, at 4,600 feet above sea level among Pac 12 schools.

Both Utah and Colorado are the only schools in the Pac-12 to sponsor skiing—not an official Pac-12 sport.

Utah is the only Pac-12 University in a state capital city, Salt Lake City.