During Jay Norvell’s discussion Monday with assembled media members, Colorado State’s football coach noted similarities between the Rams and this week’s Mountain West opponent.
“This San Diego State team is very similar to us,” Norvell said. “They’ve played a lot of tough games, a lot of close games and they’ve fallen short.
“I’m sure they’re not where they want to be either. It comes down to who has got the most competitive stamina to really execute, compete and do the things they need to do to win.”
How similar are the Rams and Aztecs?
Both are 3-6 on the season — needing to win out to reach the six wins required for bowl eligibility — and 1-4 in conference games.
Norvell seemed to echo statements made this season by SDSU coach Brady Hoke.
“We need to learn how to execute better and play fundamentally better in the critical moments of the game, and that’s what we’re really focusing on this week,” Norvell said.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the teams since 2020, when SDSU won 29-17 at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park during the COVID-truncated season.
The Aztecs lead the overall series 22-14, including victories in seven of the past eight games.
Colorado State is a 4-point favorite in a game that kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. PT (CBS Sports Network) at Canvas Stadium.
About the Rams
Colorado State needs to win its remaining three games if it is to avoid the program’s sixth straight losing season.
The Rams haven’t experienced such struggles since going eight straight years between winning seasons from 1967-74.
Norvell spent five seasons at Nevada before taking the job at Colorado State two years ago. He debuted with a 3-9 season, the same record he had in his first year at Nevada.
The difference then is the Wolf Pack followed up with an 8-5 season and the first of four straight bowl appearances while the Rams are still struggling to get it together.
Colorado State has shown glimpses of promise this season.
In Week 2, the Rams led rival Colorado late in the fourth quarter before losing 43-35 in double overtime.
Norvell generated headlines heading into the game when he called out Colorado head coach Deion Sanders for wearing a hat and sunglasses during press conferences.
“When I talk to grown-ups,” Norvell said, “I take my hat and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.”
Don’t know how much that did to motivate Rams players, although it sent sunglasses sales through the roof for the San Diego-based company that has a deal with Sanders.
Colorado State followed the loss with victories over Middle Tennessee (31-23) and Utah Tech (41-20).
The season highlight for Colorado State in a 31-30 home victory over Boise State.
The Rams scored all 31 points in the second half — 20 of them in the final 4:01 — and won on a 33-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired.
The excitement was short-lived. Colorado State since then has lost three straight games — to UNLV (25-23), Air Force (30-13) and Wyoming (24-15).
The offense
Colorado State has been very productive offensively, averaging 26.3 points a game with a passing offense (319.1 ypg) that leads the Mountain West and ranks ninth in the nation.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (234-for-372, 2,696 yards, 18 TDs/13 INTs) ranks ninth in the nation with 300 yards passing a game.
Fowler-Nicolosi has been a little too cavalier with some of his throws, which explain why the Rams lead the nation in interceptions (15).
He threw a pair of interceptions on back-to-back drives in the third quarter last week against Wyoming. Both led to touchdowns in a nine-point loss to the Cowboys.
“We would always prefer him to throw it away or scramble than to force it into coverage,” said Norvell, adding, “He’s a creative guy and we don’t want to take that away from him, but at the same time he’s got to do a better job of working through his progressions.”
Colorado State has five players with at least 20 receptions, led by senior wide receiver Tory Horton (77 catches, 848 yards, 6 TDs) and junior tight end Dallin Holker (51 catches, 653 yards, 6 TDs).
CSU would like more balance in the offense. They’re rushing for only 71.8 yards a game, nearly half of it by sophomore running back Vann Schield (74 carries, 321 yards, 3 TDs) accounts for half the rushing yards.
The Rams are strong finishers, scoring 102 points in the fourth quarter. They have scored 135 points in the other three quarters combined.
The defense
The Rams’ win-loss ledger is not more favorable because while the offense has been productive, the defense ranks 111th in the country in allowing 32.1 points a game.
They have especially struggled against the run, allowing 174 yards a game rushing, which is 105th in the nation.
“When we’re not playing the way that we’re capable of playing, it really comes down to fundamentals,” Norvell said. “Taking on blocks, shedding blocks, playing with leverage and tackling clean. We have to do a better job of that.”
The defense has produced 25 sacks. Graduate senior defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara leads the way with 10 1/2 sacks, which ranks fourth in the nation
Junior defensive back Jack Howell and junior linebacker Chase Wilson lead the team in tackles with 88 and 86, respectively.
The Rams have 17 takeaways, including 10 fumble recoveries.
