Border War: Wicks Expects ‘Good Old-Fashioned’ Fight Between Wyoming, CSU

Jeff Bugher
Jan 31
3 min read

Sundance Wicks. Photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wyoming native and head coach Sundance Wicks made it clear Thursday afternoon that Saturday night’s Border War matchup carries weight for more than just a game.

“This is game 245,” Wicks said. “I don’t care who you are. That’s a rivalry.”

Saturday’s meeting will be the 245th all-time contest between Wyoming and Colorado State, the first Border War of the 2025-2026 season, and one of the most anticipated nights on the Cowboys’ home schedule. With both programs entering the game with 12-9 identical overal win/loss records, Wicks expects a physical, emotional battle inside the Arena-Auditorium.

“These are two desperate teams,” Wicks said. “Both have had their ups and downs in the season right now. But these are two desperate teams. So I expect a good old-fashioned Border War.”

History, Stakes, and State Pride

While Wyoming returns very few returning players on the bench, Wicks knows that much of the current roster is still learning what the rivalry truly means.

“Most of you guys aren’t going to understand what this is,” Wicks said. “But for the state of Wyoming, this is really important. For the Wyoming Cowboys, it’s really important. For the Colorado, for the CSU Rams, it’s really important.”

To help bridge that gap, Wicks intentionally assigned the CSU scouting report to assistant coach Chris McMillan.

“It’s Chris’s scout intentionally,” Wicks said. “Because it should be his scout. Because it should mean a little bit more to him.”

Still, Wicks knows that sometimes his players learn through experience.

“Until you experience it, until you’re in it, you just don’t know,” he said. “They’ll know it better on Saturday.”

Mutual Respect on the Other Sideline

Wicks also spoke at length about his respect for CSU head coach Niko Medved’s successor, Ali Farokhmanesh, and the grind of being a first-year head coach.

“It’s lonely, man,” Wicks said. “The decisions you make, the things you have to live with, the cultural standard that you have to keep every single day and fight for it.”

Wicks said he reached out to Farokhmanesh after the Rams suffered a difficult loss to Utah State earlier this season.

“I just called him and said, man, like the sun’s going to rise tomorrow,” Wicks said. “You've got to flush this crap. It’s hard.”

Despite the rivalry, Wicks believes CSU made the right hire.

“That’s a good program,” he said. “They made the right hire. And he’s going to put his own stamp on that program.”

Shooting Struggles and Accountability

Wyoming’s recent shooting woes were another focal point of the press conference. Wicks didn’t sugarcoat the situation.

“We got about five guys that are shooting under 28% from three that are very capable shooters,” he said.

Rather than blame, Wicks emphasized accountability and work ethic.

“The answer is in the work,” he said. “But if there is no sacrifice, there can be no success.”

Wicks added that confidence must be earned.

“Confidence comes from demonstrated ability,” he said. “Prove to yourself you can do it.”

Keeping the Border War Alive

With CSU joining the Pac-12 in July, Wicks was adamant that the Border War must continue regardless of conference affiliation.

“The goal is to never let that thing die,” Wicks said. “If this game doesn’t get played again, it won’t be because of us on our end.”

A Rivalry Passed Down

One of the lighter moments came when Wicks was asked whether his dislike for CSU was ingrained growing up. His answer came with a personal touch.

“This is my daughter, Grace,” Wicks said, motioning her forward. “I said, ‘It sucks to be a CSU Ram.’”

Grace echoed the phrase without hesitation.

“That’s a proud dad moment,” Wicks said. “You better raise your kids right. And it better be brown and gold.”

What Will Decide Saturday Night

Statistically, Wicks sees two nearly identical teams, but he believes the rivalry will be the difference.

“The tale of the tape is going to be who comes out tougher on Saturday,” he said. “Who comes out with a little bit more resilience and a little bit more spirit, a little bit more fight because of the rivalry.”

After 245 meetings, Wicks knows what’s coming.

“Throw everything out the window,” he said. “It’s the Border War.”