Colorado State Rams football

The Colorado State Rams football program represents Colorado State University in the sport of American football. The Rams compete in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Colorado State has played its home games at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado since 2017.

The Rams have won 24 conference championships, including 10 Mountain West Conference titles. They have also appeared in 13 bowl games, winning four.

History

The Colorado State football program began in 1893, making it one of the oldest in the West. The Rams played their first game against the University of Denver, which they lost 28-0. Colorado State won its first game in 1894, defeating the Colorado School of Mines 12-4.

The Rams enjoyed their early success under head coach Charles James "Doc" Saunders, who led the team to four consecutive conference championships from 1917 to 1920. Saunders' Rams were known for their tough defense and their ability to run the ball.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Rams struggled to find success. However, they experienced a resurgence in the 1950s under head coach Bob Davis. Davis' Rams won three conference championships in five years and made their first bowl game appearance in 1957.

The Rams continued to be a successful program in the 1960s and 1970s under head coaches Sonny Lubick and Earle Bruce. Lubick and Bruce's Rams won a combined eight conference championships and made seven bowl game appearances.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Rams struggled to find success. However, they experienced a resurgence in the early 2000s under head coach Sonny Lubick. Lubick's Rams won three consecutive conference championships from 2002 to 2004 and made four bowl game appearances.

Since Lubick's departure in 2007, the Rams have struggled to find success. They have not won a conference championship since 2004 and have only made two bowl game appearances.

Current state of the program

The Colorado State Rams football program is currently led by head coach Jay Norvell. Norvell was hired in December 2021 after spending the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Nevada.

Norvell is a disciple of the Air Raid offense, which is known for its fast-paced passing game. He has implemented a similar offense at Colorado State, and the Rams have shown signs of improvement in the passing game under his leadership.

However, the Rams still have some work to do in order to become a competitive team. They need to improve their running game and their defense.

Key players

The Colorado State Rams have a number of key players who will need to step up in 2023 if the team wants to be successful.

On offense, the Rams are led by quarterback Clay Millen. Millen is a senior who transferred to Colorado State from Utah State. He is a talented passer with a strong arm.

The Rams also have a number of talented wide receivers, including Tory Horton, Trey McBride, and Ty McCullar. Horton is a senior who is one of the most experienced players on the team. McBride is a junior who is coming off a breakout season in 2022. McCullar is a sophomore who is one of the most explosive players on the team.

On defense, the Rams are led by linebacker Dequan Jackson. Jackson is a senior who is one of the best defensive players in the Mountain West Conference. He is a physical tackler and a good pass rusher.

The Rams also have a number of talented defensive backs, including Ayden Hector and Jordan Woodward. Hector is a senior who is one of the most experienced players on the team. Woodward is a sophomore who is one of the most athletic players on the team.

Schedule

The Colorado State Rams will play a challenging schedule in 2023. They will open the season against Washington State, which is a Pac-12 Conference team. They will also play games against No. 18/21 Colorado, Middle Tennessee, Utah Tech, Utah State, Boise State, UNLV, Air Force, Wyoming, San Diego State, and Nevada.

Outlook

The Colorado State Rams football program is currently in a rebuilding phase. They have a new head coach and a number of new players. It will take some time for the Rams to become a competitive team.