Rocky Mountain Showdown kickoff is set: TV, time set for Colorado vs. CSU football game

The return of the Rocky Mountain Showdown will be played late-night under the bright lights of a national spotlight.

The Sept. 16 game between the Colorado and Colorado State football teams will be at 8 p.m. and broadcast on ESPN, the network announced Wednesday. It will be played at Folsom Field in Boulder.

The game will pit CSU's second-year coach Jay Norvell against CU and first-year coach Deion Sanders, and it will be the first Rocky Mountain Showdown for each of them.

The rivals last played in 2019, which was the conclusion of the contract for the matchup played at Empower Field at Mile High.

More:Colorado State football 2023 schedule to feature afternoon, evening home kickoffs

The 2023 game is one of two in back-to-back seasons on the respective campuses, with CSU set to host in 2024. The teams then aren't scheduled to play again until a new series begins in 2029.

CU has won the last five matchups in the series.

The last time CSU was on the main ESPN channel was against Colorado in 2019.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.