By Jake Levin
This week’s football action in The Centennial State kicks off on Friday with CU and CSU hosting conference rivals in regular season finales
On Saturday, CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado entertain teams from Minnesota in the second round of Super Region Four in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The Buffs and Rams need victories to have a chance to compete in their conference championship games. At the same time, the ThunderWolves and Mountaineers hope to revive their rivalry with playoff wins over Minnesota State (Mankato) and Bemidji State, respectively.
While Minnesota State leads the series with CSU Pueblo 3-1, with all four games being in the NCAA playoffs, the ThunderWolve’s 13-0 win over the Mavericks in 2014 resulted in the national championship for southern Colorado eleven.
Western Colorado (11-1) will play Bemidji State (9-3) for the first time as the second-seeded Mountaineers advanced to Saturday’s matchup in Gunnison by defeating Central Washington 28-21 last week at home for the school’s first-ever win in the NCAA playoffs. Bemidji State advanced with a 24-14 victory at Lone Star Conference champion Angelo State.
Seeded first in the region after winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title with a 9-0 record highlighted by a 44-34 win at Western Colorado four weeks ago, CSU Pueblo (10-1) will be playing a Minnesota State (9-3) team that posted a 20-19 playoff win last weekend against Augustana in Sioux Falls, S. D.
Bemidji State at Western Colorado, 1 p.m., ESPN+ – The Mountaineers rely on Drew Nash, who has accounted for 31 TDs (25 passing, six rushing) this season. In the Central Washington win, Nash passed for three scores and added a fourth on a run. He has passed for 2,502 yards this season while gaining 489 rushing. Western Colorado averages 425.4 yards a game on offense but will face the No. 7 team in total defense in D2, as Bemidji allows 240 yards per contest. Bemidji allows 15.6 points a game, and Western scores 35.6 points per contest.
Minnesota State at CSU Pueblo, 1 p.m., ESPN+ – A key for the ThunderWolves will be the return to action of the RMAC’s top rusher, Howard Russell V. The 15th-ranked ground gainer in D2 play with 1,115 yards and 11 scores, Russell V missed the Pack’s regular-season finale two weeks ago at Chadron State. The Pack is ranked in the top 10 in the nation in scoring (7th, 41.7 points) and total offense (8th, 472.0 yards). CSUP wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff is listed among the national leaders in several categories, with 64 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 scores.
Oklahoma State at Colorado, 10 a.m., ABC – Colorado is still looking to make the Big XII championship game but needs to beat Oklahoma State to remain in contention. Shedeur Sanders and Heisman candidate Travis Hunter lead the Buffaloes. Sanders is fifth in the FBS with 3,488 passing yards and tied for second with 30 passing touchdowns. Hunter is seventh in receiving yards (1,036) and tied for third in 11 touchdown receptions. Colorado leads the series 24-20-1.
Utah State at Colorado State, 1:30 p.m., FS1 – Colorado State is looking to make the Mountain West championship game in Boise. The Rams need to win and hope for a UNLV loss to make it. The offensive line of Colorado State, nicknamed “The Mob,” has only allowed nine sacks this season, tied for fourth in the FBS. Colorado State has the 43rd-best rushing offense in the FBS, with 180.2 rushing yards per game. The Ram pitch-catch combined of Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Jamari Person was “on fire” during last week’s setback at Fresno State. Fowler-Nicolosi has his first 300-yard passing day of the season, finishing with 302. Person was credited with ten catches for 125 yards (both career-bests). Colorado State Leads the series 39-38-2.
Air Force at San Diego State, 8:30 p.m., FS1 – After winning three straight, Air Force (4-7) looks for a fourth consecutive win as the Falcons head to San Diego. Air Force leads the series 21-17. Last week, the Air Force had 318 total yards, all rushing yards. This year, they became the first FBS team to win a game without completing a single pass. Air Force is 12th in the FBS in rushing offense with 219.3 rushing yards per game. Against Nevada, the Air Force had more than 300 yards rushing for the second time this season. Air Force has had more than 270 rushing yards in the last three games. The Falcons have averaged 310.7 rushing yards in their previous three games. Running backs Owen Allen and Dylan Carlson had more than 100 yards rushing in the Falcons’ latest win.
