A year ago near the 50-yard line at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, University of Colorado safety Afolabi Laguda and Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup exchanged high-fives and hugs while their conversation intensified. It was a mixture of "Love you, man" and "We're going to kick your tail tonight."
The Rocky Mountain Showdown was a reunion for the Georgia natives who became teammates in 2014 at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., and who were making their first career starts in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They texted on the way to the stadium and met at midfield to soak in the pregame moment together.