Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is making headlines in Colorado this week after bashing Colorado State University during a jersey retirement ceremony that his alma mater hosted to honor his collegiate career. Granted, his alma mater happens to be the University of Wyoming – a bitter rival of the CSU Rams.

Colorado State University Rams and the Wyoming Cowboys have been involved in a rivalry since the 1800s – 1899 to be specific, when the first ‘Border War’ football game took place on Thanksgiving Day.

As the story goes, this historic game occurred in an era when referees were provided by each of the competing schools, with the CSU-designated official (then called the Colorado Agricultural College) claiming that Wyoming wasn’t following the rules before declaring a forfeit. As Colorado’s players started to leave the field, the referee Wyoming had designated declared that he didn’t agree with the ruling of a forfeit, telling the Wyoming team to pick up the ball and score a touchdown.

A Wyoming player did just that, scoring a highly-debated touchdown that those agreeing with the Wyoming referee would say put the team up 16 to 12, with Wyoming now claiming victory, too.

What Colorado State University describes as “a bit of a riot on the field” followed, with the Colorado quarterback even getting struck on the head with a cane.

Even though the Colorado Agricultural College president at the time declared that Wyoming could never compete at his school again – in any athletic event – until a written apology was received, the rivalry has continued to this day. It doesn’t sound like a formal apology was ever issued either.

It depends on who you ask – a Colorado fan or a Wyoming fan – but here in the Centennial State, most consider the all-time record between the teams to be 60-52-5 in favor of Colorado State. It is worth noting, however, that Wyoming did claim the latest crown, winning against Colorado State 28 to 0 on October 25, 2025 – also getting awarded with the ‘Bronze Boot’ traveling trophy that’s associated with the game.

About a month after the most recent Border War game took place, Josh Allen became the first Wyoming football player to have their jersey retired on November 22. As the band formed a ’17’ on the field to pay homage to Allen’s number he gave a short speech, thanking the fans and noting how he was honored to represent the University of Wyoming – and right as the speech was wrapping up, he capped it with his jab at Colorado State University: “And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram.”

Josh Allen’s collegiate career started at Reedley College – a public community college in California – in 2014. He then transferred to the University of Wyoming the following year but attempted only six passes before an injury cut his first season at the school short. After returning for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Allen ended up with a combined 5,015 yards, 44 passing touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns, and 649 completed passes. Allen would lead the University of Wyoming to beat CSU in both ‘Border War’ games in which he was on the field.

In the 2018 NFL draft, Allen was drafted in the 1st round as the 7th pick. He went on to become the NFL’s MVP in 2024, considered one of the best ‘dual-threat’ quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Perhaps the latest saga in the bitter rivalry between Colorado State University and Wyoming, the CSU Rams are sure to remember Allen’s words when they step on the field to continue the Border War next fall.

Watch the clip of Allen’s speech here.

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