With eight games on the schedule for Colorado-based collegiate schools, this week’s slate is highlighted by Colorado seeking to remain undefeated in the Big 12 Conference at home and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference leaders CSU Pueblo and Colorado Western on the road.
CU has bounced back from a setback at Nebraska last month to rank unbeaten in the Big 12 with Texas Tech, BYU, Iowa State, and West Virginia. Tech has a 3-0 league mark, with the other four schools at 2-0.
In the RMAC, CSU Pueblo has a 4-0 record with victories over South Dakota Mines, Colorado Mesa, Adams State, and New Mexico Highlands. Colorado Western is second, as the Mountaineers have posted victories over Adams State, Highlands, and Fort Lewis.
Kansas State at Colorado, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN) – With the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame “saluting” 2024 inductee Deon Figures at the game, CU is playing the 18th-ranked Wildcats for the first time since the 2010 season when the Buffs posted a 44-36 over the “Little Apple” crew. After losing at Nebraska has reeled off wins over Colorado State, Baylor and Central Florida. Kansas State is 1-1 in league play and 4-1 overall, with its only setback being a 38-9 decision at BYU. CU leads the series with the Wildcats 45-20-1.
NOTE – During Figures’ final season as a Buff in 1992, he set school records by returning ten punts for 167 yards in the CU’s 54-7 win over Kansas State on October 24 in Boulder, including a pair of 37-yard returns. In the first half alone, Figures returned seven punts for 147 yards.
Western Colorado at Black Hills State, 1 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Ranked eighth in the American Football Coaches Association poll, Western Colorado is looking to keep pace with CSU Pueblo and ahead of Colorado Mines. The Mountaineers face a nine-hour, 917-mile bus trip to Spearfish and will seek their six-straight win over the Hornets. Western is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in RMAC play. Black Hills State is 2-1 in the league and 3-2 overall. Western Colorado leads the series with the Hornets 8-3.
CSU Pueblo at Fort Lewis, 2 p.m. (RMAC Net) – The 16th-ranked ThunderWolves have dominated the series with Fort Lewis the past five seasons, with the average score in the handful of games being 59-5. Fort Lewis has a win in five games this season with a 0-3 record as the Skyhawks look for their first RMAC victory since October 5, 2019, when Adams State fell in Durango 28-9. The key for the Skyhawks is slowing down CSUP’s offense, averaging 45 points and 509 total yards a game. CSUP leads the series 29-7, with the last Fort Lewis win in 2017 – 35-24.
South Dakota Mines at Colorado Mines, 12 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Falling to 12th in the AFCA poll, Colorado Mines is looking to bounce back from a 14-13 setback at Colorado Mesa last week. The Orediggers have won 23 of 24 games with their South Dakota counterparts. Colorado Mines is 4-1 this season and 2-1 in RMAC play. The Hardrockers are 2-2 in the league and 3-2 overall.
Colorado Mesa at Adams State, 1 p.m. (RMAC Net) – After upsetting Colorado Mines last week in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa travels south to Alamosa looking to better its 2-1 league record and 3-2 overall mark against the 0-5 Grizzlies. Both teams have struggled on offense, with the Mavericks averaging 14.8 points and 256.4 total yards per game. Adams is last in the RMAC with a 12.6 scoring average, generating 212.6 total yards a game. The two schools have split their last two games against each other with Mesa winning 42-7 in Grand Junction last season and Adams posting a 45-31 victory in 2022 in Alamosa. CMU leads the series 30-18.
San Jose State at Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. (trutv) – San Jose State is atop the Mountain West standings with a 2-0 record as the Spartans return to Centennial State for the second time this season. At Air Force in September, San Jose State posted a 17-7 win over the Falcons. The Spartans are 4-1 this season under new coach Ken Niumatalolo, with the lone setback being a 54-52 double overtime decision at Washington State. Colorado State is 2-3 this season, with Saturday’s game being its first Mountain West game. The Rams lead the series with San Jose 7-5. The Spartans won the last game in the series 28-16 in San Jose in 2022.
Air Force at New Mexico, 5 p.m. (trutv) – The Falcons hope to bounce back from his 34-7 setback to Navy last week as Air Force (1-4) seeks to end a four-game losing streak and secure its first Mountain West win in three tries this season in Albuquerque. The Air Force offense has struggled this season, averaging 11.4 points per game. New Mexico has had trouble scoring (32 points a game), but the Lobo defense has yielded 43.8 points per contest. AFA leads the series with the Lobos 26-14.
Northern Colorado at Weber State, 6 p.m. (ESPN+) – Winless UNC (0-6) plays a nationally ranked team in the Football Championships Subdivision for the second straight week. Last week, the Bears dropped their 18-straight game by losing 55-17 at third-ranked Montana State. This week, UNC plays at 23rd-ranked Weber State in Ogden, Utah. The Bears trailed in the series 11-1, with their only win being 42-34 in 2012 in Odgen. After upsetting Montana 55-48 last week in Missoula, the 3-3 Wildcats are tied atop the Big Sky standings with a 2-0 record with Montana State and UC Davis. The Bears occupy the basement with Portland State at 0-2
