In a season defined by legacy and resilience, the Mavericks found themselves making history during a milestone matchup
On October 4, 2025, Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) football team not only defeated Colorado School of Mines to retain the Nyikos Cup for a second consecutive year, but also secured the program’s 500th all-time win. This monumental achievement came in CMU’s centennial year, 100 years after the school and football program were created in 1925.
The game ended at 28-24 in favor of CMU’s dominant rushing performance. Standout running backs put together nearly 400 yards on the ground, allowing the Mavericks to come away with the win on the road. However, with Mines down by four points late in the game, CMU had to protect their lead. On the second to last play of the game, time ran out, but the play was still happening when CMU rushed the field in celebration. Due to the play not being over, Mines was rewarded with another play with no time left. The game ended in a crucial sack on defense for the Mavericks, securing a win that had more depth than any other win in the past. CMU made history as they achieved their 500th program win in dramatic fashion.
“As we mark this 100-year milestone, we are reminded that our story is not defined by ease but by endurance. Again and again, we have proven that Maverick pride is forged not in comfort, but in courage,” said Head Football Coach Miles Kochevar.
Colorado Mesa University students, faculty and alumni have been celebrating all year as we have been a storied institution for a complete century. From starting out as a junior college to being a university today, the mission has stayed the same throughout time – to provide an affordable and accessible education and form meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. CMU exercises it's seven core values through all aspects of being a Maverick on campus.
Athletics, like football, have celebrated 100 years of athletic excellence in both the classroom and the field. There have been many ups and downs throughout the years, but coach Kochevar knows the reward that comes with patience and endurance.
“Our football program, like our university, has known triumphs and trials. There have been seasons of victory and seasons of rebuilding, but through every test, the Maverick spirit has endured. Each player, coach, trainer and staff who has taken the field has carried with them not only the weight of competition but the legacy of a community that refuses to quit,” Kochevar said. “Our teams have always been more than student-athletes; they have been torchbearers of resilience, character and pride. To reach 500 is just the beginning and we must continue to strive for excellence on and off the field.”
CMU encourages students, faculty, alumni and community members to catch the last regular season home game and celebrate a century of tradition on November 8, 2025, at 2 pm, where the Mavericks take on South Dakota Mines on Senior Day.