By Jake Levin
This week’s featured game is the battle for the Bronze Boot between Wyoming and Colorado State in Fort Collins on Friday night with a 6 p.m. kickoff and being aired on CBS Sports Network.
Colorado State is undefeated in the Mountain West at 4-0 and has won its last three games to become bowl-eligible with a 6-3 mark. The Rams lead the series against Wyoming 58-51-5, but Wyoming has won seven of the previous eight meetings.
The last win for the Rams in the series was a 34-24 decision on November 5, 2020, in Fort Collins. With the Bronze Boot starting in 1967, Wyoming has captured the trophy 31 times to CSU’s 25.
The Rams have benefited from an improved running attack after averaging 92.2 yards per game last season, the ninth-worst mark in the FBS. Led by Avery Morrow, the Rams are 43rd in rushing with 180.9 rushing yards per game with 15 touchdowns (only ten in 2023).
With four games of 100 or more yards on the ground, Morrow has gained 788 rushing yards. The Ram offensive line has been one of the best in the nation. Nicknamed “The Mob” and led by Outland Trophy candidate Jacob Gardner, the group has surrendered just eight sacks across the entire season, the eighth-best mark in the nation.
Utah at Colorado, 10 a.m. (FOX) – Ranked 18th and 20th in the national polls, Colorado (5-1, 7-2) is now three wins away from the Big XII championship game. First, Colorado must beat Utah. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is sixth in the FBS in passing yards (2,882) and tied for third with passing touchdowns (24). Travis Hunter, a contender for numerous post-season awards, is ranked sixth nationally with nine touchdown receptions and 11th in receiving yards (856). On the strength of seven straight wins, Utah leads the series 35-32-3. The Buffs last won on November 26, 2016, with a 27-22 victory in Boulder. When both teams were in the Pac-12, Utah won 11 of the 13 games.
CSU Pueblo at Chadron State, 12 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Seventh-ranked CSU Pueblo (8-0, 9-1) is looking to clinch its first outright RMAC title since 2014. The ThunderWolves have won their last 15 RMAC games. CSU Pueblo receiver Reggie Retzlaff is second in the RMAC in receiving yards (1,100) and first in touchdown receptions (12). Running Back Howard Russell V leads the RMAC with 1,115 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He is also tops in all-purpose yards (1,270) and scoring (78 points). Roman Fuller has started the last three games for Pueblo and passed for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in those games. The ThunderWolves had won 14 straight games in the series after Chadron captured the first meeting between the two schools in 2008 when CSU Pueblo was relaunching the program that had been dormant for 23 seasons.
Fort Lewis at Colorado Mines, 12 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Coming off a loss to CSU Pueblo, 24th-ranked Colorado Mines (5-3, 7-3) looks to finish the regular season strong against Fort Lewis. Evan Foster, the RMAC leader in passing yards with 2,320 passing yards and touchdowns with 21, has not played in the last two games, with freshman Joseph Capra as his replacement. Colorado Mines has the two receivers with the most receptions in the RMAC – Flynn Schiele (63) and Max Mcleod (66). Schiele is first in RMAC receiving yards (1,118), and McLeod is third (958). Both receivers have ten touchdown passes each. Fort Lewis has back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2017 season. Quarterback Stone Walker is leading the way with 499 total yards (107 rushing and 392 passing) with five TDs responsible for. Mines leads the series 34-27, with the Orediggers winning the last 16 games against the Skyhawks. Fort Lewis last won a game in the series with a 41-34 victory on October 21, 2006, in Golden.
Western Colorado at Colorado Mesa, 1 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Tenth-ranked Western Colorado (7-1, 9-1) can clinch a share of the RMAC title with a win and a CSU Pueblo loss. Colorado Mesa’s playoff hopes are gone, but they still want to end the season on a high note. Western Colorado has the second-best scoring offense in the RMAC, with 362 points scored this season. Colorado Mesa (6-2, 7-3) has the best scoring defense in the RMAC, with only 145 points allowed this season. For Western Colorado, Drew Nash is second in the RMAC with 2,134 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. Brandon Belgrave is fourth in the RMAC for Colorado Mesa with 668 rushing yards. Western Colorado has won the last four games in the series, but Mesa holds a 25-23 advantage in meetings, with their last win being 24-20 in Gunnison on September 15, 2018.
Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado, 12 p.m. (ESPN+) – Northern Colorado (1-5, 1-9) looks to snap its three-game losing streak as the Bears host Northern Arizona. Northern Colorado averages 12 points per game, 121st in the FCS. They are 113th in the FCS with 141.6 passing yards per game. Northern Arizona leads the series 16-7. Northern Colorado has won two of the last three meetings.
South Dakota Mines at Adams State, 1 p.m. (RMAC Net) – Adams State (0-8, 0-10) will be looking to snap a 16-game victory drought since last winning 21-14 on September 30, 2023 at New Mexico Highlands. The Grizzlies have also sought to avoid a winless campaign since 1957, when Adams posted a 0-9-1 mark. In the previous season, the Grizzlies were 0-8. Adams State ranks near the bottom in the NCAA Division II stats in both offensive (13.4 points and 230 total yards per game) and defense (49.3, 506.4) yards. South Dakota Mines leads the series 5-2 by winning its last three meetings with the Grizzlies.
Oregon State at Air Force, 1:30 p.m. (CBS-SN) – After snapping the longest losing streak in the Troy Calhoun Era at seven games, Air Force (1-4, 2-7) plays its first-ever game against Oregon State. Kicker Matthew Dapore became the Academy’s all-time leading scorer with 12 points in the last game when the Falcons picked up their first win since the season opener. After being held to 290 total yards rushing in setbacks to Colorado State and Army West Point, Air Force gained a season-high 344 yards in its 36-28 win over Fresno State at Falcon Stadium.
