Colorado State (1-2) vs. Utah Tech (1-3)
When/where: 5 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: Mountain West Network/1600 AM, 104.3 HD2
BetMGM Line: No line
Weather: 79 degrees, mostly cloudy
Five storylines
Air Raid, Part I: The wide-open passing game Jay Norvell promised back when he was hired in December 2021 has arrived. One of the primary reasons: The Rams offensive line is giving quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi time to throw. Through three games, the Rams have allowed just five sacks total, only one of which came in last week’s win over Middle Tennessee State. A year ago, the Rams had allowed five sacks before their first game was even finished.
Air Raid, Part II: The end result of that protection? Fowler-Nicolosi is picking defenses apart. Through two starts, the redshirt freshman has thrown for 688 yards and five touchdowns, cementing himself as CSU’s starter. Fowler-Nicolosi is spreading the ball around, too. The pass-catching trio of receivers Tory Horton (104.3) and Justus Ross-Simmons (77.0) and tight end Dallin Holker (89.3) are all among the top 50 in FBS in receiving yards per game. Only two other teams (Washington and Washington State) have three in the top 50.
Banged up RBs: That passing game will have to deliver Saturday with the top two running backs on CSU’s depth chart, Avery Morrow (MCL) and Kobe Johnson (back), both banged up. While Norvell told reporters that Morrow is likely to miss a few weeks, it’s unclear how long Johnson will be out, if at all.
Utah Who?: Unfamiliar with Utah Tech? That’s because it used to be called Dixie State before the school’s trustees voted to change the name amid public pressure in 2020. The Trailblazers moved up to FCS in spring 2021, and have gone 8-23 since, including losses in its only two games against FBS competition. The Blazers have given up at least 36 points in all four of their games this year, but have forced seven turnovers in their last two — a 50-36 win at Northern Arizona and 59-14 loss at Missouri State.
Sea of orange: It’s Ag Day, the school’s annual celebration of its Colorado A&M roots. Which means it’s time for the Rams to throw on some sweet orange-and-green threads for an Orange Out game at Canvas Stadium. But beware: The Rams have lost four consecutive Ag Day games, including last year’s 41-10 shellacking vs. Sacramento State. That’s one of three CSU losses to FCS opponents since 2018.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CSU 28, Utah Tech 14
After erasing a halftime deficit to earn the first win of the season last week at Middle Tennessee State, the Rams build on that progress against Utah Tech. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throws for 300-plus yards in a third straight start and the Rams secondary gets a pair of interceptions to help make it a comfortable victory.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: CSU 31, Utah Tech 20
Time-out for trivia: Once upon a time, Utah Tech was Dixie State. And was a member of the RMAC. And the last time they were in Colorado, four years ago, actually gave Mines a pretty good fight in Golden. Unfortunately for the ex-Dixies, these Rams are a heck of a lot faster than those engineers. A lot bigger, too.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: CSU 35, Utah Tech 17
What have we learned through four weeks? Washington State is actually really good. CU was gettable. And this Rams team is tough enough to go on the road and beat a solid Group of 5 program. Utah Tech should be nothing more than a speed bump for a team that appears to be turning a corner.
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