PUEBLO, Colo. (October 20, 2026) – Colorado State University Pueblo Vice President for Athletics and Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Paul Plinske and head football coach
Philip Vigil announced Tuesday, in conjunction with University of Central Missouri Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Howdeshell and head football coach Josh Lamberson, that the two institutions have agreed to a two-year contract extension to continue their non-conference football series during the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
The renewed agreement will have the ThunderWolves traveling to Warrensburg, Mo., to open the 2027 season against the Mules on Thursday, Aug. 26, before Central Missouri makes a return trip to Pueblo to open the 2028 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.
The two-year extension continues a competitive non-conference series between two established NCAA Division II football programs representing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
"I think it is a great opportunity for us to continue playing a quality opponent from a great league over the next two years and someone we've become familiar with over the last two seasons," Vigil said about the scheduling renewal with Central Missouri. "They are one of the top teams in the MIAA and are a team that is going to have an opportunity to make the playoffs this year if they continue to win. It's a great environment on both sides, and I have a lot of respect for what they do. I'm excited to continue playing regional opponents in our preseason non-conference schedule."
The series between CSU Pueblo and Central Missouri dates back to the 1983 season when the Mules recorded a 34-9 victory over the ThunderWolves on Sept. 3, 1983, at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.
After a lengthy hiatus, the two programs renewed their series in 2025, with CSU Pueblo traveling to Warrensburg and earning a hard-fought 29-24 victory over the Mules. The teams met again to open the 2026 season in the ThunderBowl, with the ThunderWolves posting a 44-25 victory.
With victories in each of the past two meetings, CSU Pueblo has won two consecutive games against Central Missouri entering the 2027 season.
In addition to renewing its series with Central Missouri, CSU Pueblo will face another MIAA opponent during the 2027 non-conference schedule as the ThunderWolves will host Fort Hays State on Thursday, Sept. 2, at the ThunderBowl. The match up will mark the second meeting in three seasons between the two programs after the Pack earned a 35-17 road victory over the Tigers in Hays, Kan., during the 2026 season.
The two non-conference match ups against MIAA opponents will provide CSU Pueblo with challenging early-season competition before beginning its nine-game RMAC schedule.
Following its two non-conference contests, CSU Pueblo will open RMAC play on Saturday, Sept. 11, with a road game against Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. The Pack will then return home to host Chadron State on Saturday, Sept. 18, before traveling to Colorado Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The ThunderWolves will open October with a home game against Adams State on Saturday, Oct. 2, before enjoying their lone bye week of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 9.
Following the bye week, CSU Pueblo will travel to New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Oct. 16, before returning to the ThunderBowl to host Fort Lewis on Saturday, Oct. 23. The Pack will close October with a road contest at Black Hills State on Saturday, Oct. 30.
CSU Pueblo will play its final regular-season home game on Saturday, Nov. 6, against South Dakota Mines before concluding the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 13, with a road game against Western Colorado in Gunnison, Colo.
The first round of the 2027 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20.
The ThunderWolves' 2027 schedule features 11 regular-season contests, including five home games and six road games. CSU Pueblo will play two non-conference games against MIAA opponents and nine RMAC contests, with five of those conference games taking place away from home.
CSU Pueblo, who has captured back-to-back RMAC championships in 2024 and 2025 under Vigil, has established themselves as one of the top programs in NCAA Division II football. CSU Pueblo is currently ranked No. 4 nationally and improved to 7-0 overall following its 77-17 Homecoming victory over New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Oct. 17. The victory extended the Pack's winning streak to seven consecutive games and its RMAC winning streak to 30 straight games, the longest active conference winning streak in Division II football.
2027 CSU Pueblo Football Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
| Thursday, Aug. 26 |
at Central Missouri |
| Thursday, Sept. 2 |
FORT HAYS STATE |
| Saturday, Sept. 11 |
at Mines (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Sept. 18 |
CHADRON STATE (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Sept. 25 |
at Colorado Mesa (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Oct. 2 |
ADAMS STATE (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 |
BYE WEEK |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 |
at New Mexico Highlands (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 |
FORT LEWIS (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Oct. 30 |
at Black Hills State (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Nov. 6 |
SOUTH DAKOTA MINES (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Nov. 13 |
at Western Colorado (RMAC) |
| Saturday, Nov. 20 |
NCAA Division II Playoffs - First Round |
| Home games in BOLD/CAPS and played at CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl |
| All dates are subject to changes and game times will be announced later |
