By Jake Levin
This week’s featured college football games in Colorado include a rivalry game between the Rams and Buffaloes and a rematch of an overtime thriller from last year featuring CSU Pueblo and one of the best teams in Division II football in Grand Valley State.
Air Force, Adams State, and Western Colorado all travel to Texas to face non-conference opponents. Colorado Mines will play a game away from Marv Kay Stadium for the first time since they played in the national championship game and traveled to Kansas to face Washburn.
After playing in Week “Zero,” Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis were idle in Week 1. Fort Lewis is coming off their most competitive season opener since 2019, and Colorado Mesa is coming off a road win going into its home opener.
After two straight losses to start the season, Northern Colorado has its home opener against Abilene Christian this week. After an 0-11 2023 season, the Bears hope to avoid a similar season in 2024.
In the latest American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schools are ranked fifth (Colorado Mines), 15th (Western Colorado), 22nd (CSU Pueblo), and 43rd (Colorado Mesa). Grand Valley State is ranked third in the poll behind Harding (Ark.) and Central Missouri. The Grand Valley State at CSU Pueblo is one of two top-25 clashes, along with No. 4 Pittsburg State hosting No. 21 Emporia State. Colorado Mesa hosts No. 13 Central Washington.
In the D2Football.com rankings, Colorado Mines is sixth, Western Colorado 16th, and CSU Pueblo 25th. Grand Valley State is fourth behind Harding, Central Missouri, and Pittsburg State. Central Washington is 10th.
Colorado Mines (1-0) at Washburn (0-1), noon (MIAA Network) – In the first meeting between the schools since August 28, 2010, Colorado Mines will look to end its six-game losing streak against Washburn. In their first game on August 29, Washburn lost to Emporia State 30-14. Washburn leads the series 13-5. Colorado Mines defeated West Texas A&M 41-13 in its season opener. Evan Foster threw for 269 yards in his first career start and the first time since week 2 of 2019 that a new quarterback started for Colorado Mines. Preseason all-American Max McLeod had 130 yards receiving and a touchdown. Mines has won its last 21 regular-season games.
Central Washington (0-1) at Colorado Mesa (1-0), 1 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Central Washington, an NCAA Division II playoff team from last year, plays Colorado Mesa in the home opener for the Mavericks. These teams have played twice before, with Central Washington winning both meetings. Central Washington lost their first game of the season 26-7 to San Diego, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school. Colorado Mesa defeated Texas A&M – Kingsville 16-13 in their first game of the season. Central Washington won 10-0 and 48-14 in its two meetings with Mesa.
Abilene Christian (1-1) at Northern Colorado (0-2), 2 p.m. (ESPN+) – Coming off a 31-11 loss to Abilene Christian last year, Northern Colorado will look to end its one-game losing streak against Abilene Christian. Northern Colorado has lost 14 straight games. Last time out, Northern Colorado lost 38-17 against CSU in Fort Collins. Last time Abilene Christian played, they won 38-24 against West Georgia at home. Abilene Christian leads the all-time series 11-6-1.
Arizona Christian (0-0) at Fort Lewis (0-1), 2 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Fort Lewis takes on Arizona Christian, an NAIA school that has not played a game yet this season. When these two schools played last year, Arizona Christian won 49-25. Fort Lewis is coming off their most competitive season opener since 2019. In the 2024 season opener, redshirt freshman Stone Walker had 141 yards passing and 160 yards rushing. He was the first Fort Lewis player to rush for more than 150 yards in a game since 2021 and the first Fort Lewis player to rush for two touchdowns since 2018. Fort Lewis had 233 rushing yards and had more than 200 yards rushing as a team for the first time since 2018. Fort Lewis is looking to end a 40-game losing streak.
Air Force (1-1) at Baylor (1-1), 5:30 p.m. (FS-1) – Air Force and Baylor meet for the second time and for the first time since the 2022 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force won that game 30-15. This time, Baylor will be at home and looking to beat the Air Force. The last time they played a game, Baylor was in Salt Lake City, and they lost to Utah 23-12. Air Force was at home against San Jose State in their Mountain West opener, losing 17-7. Air Force only had 197 total yards of offense, and their leading rusher had 50 yards.
Colorado (1-1) at Colorado State (1-1), 5:30 p.m. (CBS) – After a 43-35 overtime thriller last year, the Buffaloes and Rams are set to renew their rivalry. For the first time since 1996, the Rams will host the Buffaloes after the Buffaloes hosted the Rams for the first time since 2009 last season. The Rams were supposed to host the Buffaloes in the fall of 2020, but that game was canceled because of COVID-19. Colorado is coming off a disappointing 28-10 loss against Nebraska in Lincoln. Colorado struggled early in the game, and things never went their way. The Buffalo’s top players, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, will look to get back on track after struggling last week. Meanwhile, CSU got a home win against Northern Colorado 38-17. After a close loss last year, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and the Rams will look to bounce back. Colorado leads the series 68-22-2.
Grand Valley State (1-0) at CSU Pueblo (2-0), 6 p.m. (RMAC Net) – After having an exciting 57-49 overtime finish last year, the Lakers and ThunderWolves match up again this season in Pueblo. Grand Valley State defeated Central State 58-0 at home two weeks ago. Last week, CSU Pueblo also won at home, defeating Texas Permian Basin 40-23. Grand Valley State was ranked fourth in both the coaches and d2football.com preseason polls. Devin Larsen threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the ThunderWolves’ last game, as he is now seventh in NCAA Division II passing yards this season with 742 passing yards. Grand Valley State is the two-time defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions and the all-time winningest program in Division II history. It will be no easy task for CSU Pueblo as the Lakers return 10 offensive starters from last season.
Adams State (0-1) at UT-Permian Basin (1-1), 6 p.m. (FloSports) – Meeting for the first time, Adams State will travel to Odessa, Texas, to play UT-Permian Basin. The Falcons are ranked and the defending Lone Star conference champion. Last week, UT-Permain Basin lost to CSU Pueblo in the Steel City 40-23. Adams State lost last week as Western New Mexico University came to Alamosa and won 39-30. Dervin Taylor III threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns for the Grizzlies.
Western Colorado (1-0) at West Texas A&M (1-1), 6 p.m. (FloSports) – These two schools met last year, and Western Colorado won 28-6. Western Colorado is coming off a 38-33 win at home, where the Mountaineers set the attendance record of 2,603. WCU quarterback Drew Nash threw for 257 yards in that game and rushed for 75. West Texas A&M lost to Colorado Mines 41-13. West Texas A&M leads the series 3-1.
