Colorado State vs WyomingBronze Boot
A Vietnam War combat boot cast in bronze, played for by Colorado State and Wyoming since 1968.
Updated · BettorEdge
Colorado State and Wyoming are not on each other's schedule right now. The trophy stays with Colorado State until they meet again.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Bronze Boot came to be
The Bronze Boot has been the Border War trophy since 1968 and is tied to the ROTC programs at both schools.
The boot belonged to Capt. Dan J. Romero, who wore it in Vietnam and then served as an Army ROTC instructor at Colorado State; it was coated in bronze and mounted on a wooden base.
Before each game, ROTC cadets from the visiting school carry the game ball by relay along U.S. 287 to the Colorado-Wyoming state line, where the home school's cadets take it the rest of the way to the stadium.
After Colorado State won the boot in 2020, the schools found it falling apart and jointly paid to restore it in 2021; the restorer said it would not have survived another year.
Colorado State's move to the Pac-12 in 2026 made the Border War a nonconference game, but the schools have kept it on the schedule.
The trophy itself. An Army combat boot worn in the Vietnam War by Capt. Dan J. Romero, later a Colorado State ROTC instructor, encased in bronze and mounted on a walnut base. It was restored in 2021 by The Bronzery in Escondido, Calif., with the base refinished by Alpine Cabinets of Timnath, Colo.
Bronze Boot history
- 1899
First meeting on Thanksgiving Day, November 30; Colorado Agricultural (now Colorado State) is awarded a 12-0 forfeit after a dispute between officials that ended in a brawl.
- 1946
Start of an unbroken run of annual meetings.
- 1968
The Bronze Boot becomes the rivalry trophy.
- 2021
The two schools jointly restore the boot and its walnut base; they are reunited on July 29.
- 2025
Wyoming wins 28-0 in Laramie on October 25, the last Border War as Mountain West rivals.
- 2026
Colorado State wins 35-13 in Fort Collins on September 5, its first game as a Pac-12 member and the first nonconference Border War in decades.
- 2028
Next scheduled meeting, September 23, after no game in 2027.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Colorado State Rams 35, Wyoming Cowboys 13 | Canvas Stadium |
| 2025 | Wyoming Cowboys 28, Colorado State Rams 0 | War Memorial Stadium |
| 2024 | Colorado State Rams 24, Wyoming Cowboys 10 | Canvas Stadium |
| 2023 | Wyoming Cowboys 24, Colorado State Rams 15 | War Memorial Stadium |
| 2022 | Wyoming Cowboys 14, Colorado State Rams 13 | Canvas Stadium |
Bronze Boot facts worth knowing
The two schools disagree on the all-time record by one game: Wyoming counts the 1899 forfeit as a Colorado State win, but Colorado State leaves it out because the NCAA does not recognize forfeits of incomplete games.
In the 1899 game, after the forfeit was called, Wyoming's official reportedly told his team to run in a touchdown anyway, and a fight broke out.
During the game, the previous year's winning school's ROTC unit stands guard over the boot on the sideline.
Colorado State's cadets run a longer leg of the game-ball relay because Fort Collins is farther from the state line than Laramie is.
Wyoming leads the series since the boot arrived, even though Colorado State leads all-time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bronze Boot?+
The Bronze Boot is the trophy Colorado State and Wyoming play for in college football, first awarded in 1968. An Army combat boot worn in the Vietnam War by Capt. Dan J. Romero, later a Colorado State ROTC instructor, encased in bronze and mounted on a walnut base. It was restored in 2021 by The Bronzery in Escondido, Calif., with the base refinished by Alpine Cabinets of Timnath, Colo.
How did the Bronze Boot come to be?+
The Bronze Boot has been the Border War trophy since 1968 and is tied to the ROTC programs at both schools.
Who has the Bronze Boot right now?+
Colorado State holds the Bronze Boot after winning the 2026 game, Colorado State 35, Wyoming 13. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Colorado State-Wyoming series?+
Colorado State leads the all-time series 61-52-5 as of the 2026 game. In games played for the Bronze Boot since 1968, Wyoming leads 32-27. Counts the 1899 forfeit, as Wyoming does; Colorado State's own count leaves it out.
When is the next Bronze Boot game?+
No Colorado State-Wyoming game is on ESPN's schedule right now. Conference schedules rotate, so check back as the next season's slate is released.
Where can I bet on the Bronze Boot game?+
You can bet Colorado State vs Wyoming on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the 2026 game; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN. Counts the 1899 forfeit, as Wyoming does; Colorado State's own count leaves it out.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, gowyo.com, fcconnexion.com.
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