CSU- UNLV CANCELED
CU floated as possible opponent
Colorado State potentially lost a second Mountain West game to COVID- 19 this week, with the conference announcing on Wednesday that the Rams’ matchup against UNLV won’t be played Saturday.
Positive coronavirus tests and the resulting contact tracing will keep the UNLV football team from traveling, according to a Mountain West release. The Rams previously had a matchup with New Mexico in October canceled because of coronavirus concerns.
The CU Buffs also had their weekend meeting with Arizona State canceled earlier this week. The San Jose Mercury News reported that the Pac- 12 is looking into allowing teams to schedule games against non- conference opponents as a replacement. That could open the door for a renewal of the Rocky Mountain Showdown of CU vs. CSU.
Rams coach Steve Addazio expressed interest in the idea, according to a tweet from Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel.
While Front Range fans are pining for a Rocky Mountain Showdown given the shared circumstances of the Rams and Buffs, that possibility didn’t appear likely as of early Wednesday evening.
When reached by The Post, a Pac- 12 spokesperson said Wednesday the Pac- 12’ s CEO group, “at this time … has only approved a conference- only football schedule.”
A Mountain West conference spokesperson told The Post on Wednesday that the Rams playing a non- league opponent would “need to be discussed and decided by the membership,” but did not elaborate on a timetable. Mountain West programs have played out of conference this fall, including when Boise State hosted BYU.
When asked about any arrangements with the Pac- 12 in general or with the CU Buffs specifically, the same spokesman replied that they had “no knowledge of the ( Mountain West) reaching out or planning to reach out to the Pac- 12 or Colorado.”
The Buffs had been slated to open the 2020 season against the Rams in Fort Collins. The Pac- 12 announced this past July that it was canceling all non- league football games, including the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
CSU athletic director Joe Parker declined comment. CU athletic director Rick George said through an athletic department spokesperson that he didn’t “want to speculate at this time,” as the Buffs are subject to intraleague matchups that could emerge because of other Pac- 12 cancellations.