Colorado State Prepares for No. 20 Boise State Following Utah State Loss
There comes a point when change is needed, and for the Colorado State University football team, that realization arrived on the heels of a bruising 31-14 defeat at Utah State. Head coach Jim Mora did not mince words when addressing reporters after the game, describing the performance as awful and laying the blame squarely on his own shoulders for failing to have the squad properly prepared.
The timing could hardly be more demanding. Sitting at a 3-5 overall record and 1-3 in conference play during the first year of the Mora era, the Rams now return home to host No. 20 Boise State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Canvas Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain time under a forecast calling for mostly sunny skies and a high near 63 degrees.
Broncos Arrive in Fort Collins Riding a Wild Win
Boise State travels to Fort Collins carrying a 7-1 overall record and a 4-0 mark in conference play. Spencer Danielson’s squad enters the matchup ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press top 25 and No. 21 in the coaches poll, making them the second ranked team to visit Canvas Stadium this season following No. 7 BYU’s 41-23 victory back on Sept. 19.
The Broncos arrive battle-tested after surviving a frantic 46-45 win against Texas State. Boise State raced out to a 28-0 lead before surrendering 36 unanswered points in the second half. Complicating matters for the visitors, starting quarterback Maddux Madsen suffered an injury in the fourth quarter, forcing backup Max Cutforth into action. Cutforth promptly tossed three touchdowns to engineer the comeback.
While Madsen’s status remains uncertain for the weekend, Mora noted during his weekly press conference that the Bronco offense maintains its structural identity regardless of who is under center. Stopping that attack presents a formidable challenge for a CSU defense that has fought consistency issues throughout the year.
Slowing a Dynamic Ground Attack
Beyond the quarterback situation, the Rams must devise a way to contain running back Dylan Riley, who ranks second in the country in rushing yards. Mora emphasized that run defense remains the non-negotiable cultural foundation of any successful unit, noting that stopping the ground game requires all 11 defenders to execute their assignments.
“Stopping the run is the cultural background of any good defense; it’s a non-negotiable. … When you look at the way we’re playing defense right now, when everybody does their job and stays connected, we’re good. But when we don’t, then we have issues,” Mora said.
The historical matchup heavily favors the visitors, as Boise State leads the all-time series 13-1, with Colorado State’s sole victory coming in 2023. DraftKings opened the Broncos as 17.5-point favorites.
The Search for Offensive Rhythm
Offensively, the Rams need to recapture the offensive spark they displayed earlier in the season. Against Utah State, the team mustered just 263 total yards, while quarterback Hauss Hejny threw for 186 yards and a single touchdown.
Fortunately for CSU, the Boise State defense has shown vulnerabilities, particularly on third and fourth downs. Mora stressed that the coaching staff has approached the offensive struggles with candor and directness in meetings, demanding a rigorous emotional, physical, and mental response from players as they prepare to host a top-25 opponent.
Fans hoping to attend the matchup can purchase tickets starting at $34 through the official Colorado State athletics website. Television coverage is available via USA Sports, with regional channel access on Comcast/Xfinity and Fort Collins Connexion, while the local radio broadcast will feature Brian Roth, Marty Lenz, and Marty Cesario.
