With Record-Breaking 9.3 Million Viewers in 2023, NFL Legend Adds Fire to Coach Prime’s Rivalry With Jay Norvell

Led by Jay Norvell, who became the head coach in 2021, the Colorado State Rams found themselves in shambles when they met Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes last season. Norvell already had something to say against Coach Prime, who appeared for the game looking flashy, like how we know him, wearing sunglasses and a cowboy hat. The 61-year-old CSU HC said, “When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and my glasses off.”

Jay Norvell could’ve had a different tale to tell if the game had swung in their favor. But they suffered a crushing defeat when victory seemed within their grasp. Will history repeat itself this year, or will there be a game-changing twist?

The Colorado vs. CSU rivalry

The Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium will witness an exciting rivalry battle in September! This would be interesting to look out for, especially if you live in Colorado. Legendary ex-NFL QB Michael Vick recently updated on X, “To all college football fans here’s a game to circle on your calendar…Sept 14th in Ft. Collins…Colorado vs Colorado State…last years battle=epic.”

In another tweet, Vick uploaded a screenshot of the Google results for “Colorado vs. Colorado State” with last season’s final record on display. He captioned, “That’s what people thought last year as well.” The Rams played above themselves last season despite being the underdogs to Coach Prime’s Buffs. Amidst a crowd of fans and star-studded celebrities, they led most of the game before Shedeur Sanders threw a touchdown pass to Michael Harrison in the second overtime to beat CSU 43-35. But it isn’t just what happened on the field that stood out.  

Colorado’s glory against CSU in 2023 

Deion Sanders was able to lock down multiple records for Colorado with the number of views they garnered for their rivalry game with CSU. @ESPNPR previously wrote of the September 16, 2023 game, “@CUBuffsFootball’s comeback thriller registers 9.4 MILLION VIEWERS. ESPN’s 5th most-watched CFB game on record… @ESPNCFB’s most-streamed regular season game of all time.”

It’s a season of uncertainty for both teams, with a tumultuous offseason behind them. Coach Prime and Colorado have been grappling with their transfer exodus, losing over 40 players to the portal, the highest among college football programs. Yet, they’ve managed to retain their top talent and secure other valuable assets. It’s a tough road ahead, and we’re all eager to see how they navigate it.