Does New Episode of Viral Show ‘The Last of Us’ Shout Out CSU?

In case you're unfamiliar, The Last of Us is a new HBO show that has taken the world by a Game of Thrones-like storm.

If you are familiar, you know that the video game adaptation follows Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie as they navigate an apocalyptic world overrun by a parasitic fungus.

But did you know that the show's recent episode, "The Ties That Bind," features a nod to Colorado State University?

According to CBS Colorado, the episode finds Joel and Ellie on a horseback trip to the fictional University of Eastern Colorado.

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The station notes that in the video game, the fictional university is set in Boulder; however, many — including Gov. Jared Polis — have pointed out that the show's version bears a striking resemblance to CSU.

Gov. Polis also spoke to the similarities between the University of Eastern Colorado's "Big Horns" mascot and CSU's Cam the Ram — and now, even CSU is getting in on the fun.

On Thursday (Feb. 23), CSU addressed the possible shout-out on Instagram, joking that The Last of Us team should "just give us a call next time."

Barstool Colorado State also poked fun at the similarities, stating that the show "basically copy and pasted CSU." Others wondered why HBO didn't base the school on the University of Northern Colorado since it's supposed to be eastern.

The Coloradoan reports that HBO did indeed base the school's design on CSU, despite the fact that CBS Colorado notes it was filmed in Canada.

See more Colorado locales featured on TV shows in the gallery below.