Thursday, September 3

The opening week kicks off with a heavy Thursday slate highlighted by a major FBS clash on national television.

• Colorado at Georgia Tech – 6 p.m. (ESPN) The Buffaloes open their campaign on the road in Atlanta, looking to kick off the season with a statement victory under the Thursday night lights.  This is the second meeting in the series as Georgia Tech posted a 27-20 win over the Buffs last August in Boulder.  Deion Sanders starts his fourth season in Boulder and returns to Atlanta, where on October 16, 1994, he intercepted a pass from Jeff George and high-stepped 93 yards for a touchdown when playing for the San Francisco 49ers.  He also played four seasons (1991-1994) for the Atlanta Braves. GAME CENTER

• CSU Pueblo at Fort Hays State – 6 p.m. (MIAANet/REV 89.5) A tough early regional test on the road for the ThunderWolves against an ever-competitive Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponent.  CSU Pueblo leads the series 9-8, but the Tigers won the last meeting after escaping with a 36-35 win over the Pack in Pueblo last September after the host missed an extra point on the final play of regulation.  Then-nicknamed Indians, CSU Pueblo last played in Hays, Kan., on September 16, 1978 and posted a 29-6 win over the Tigers at Lewis Field.  CSU Pueblo opened the season with a 44-25 win last Thursday at the ThunderBowl, while Hays scored a 35-14 win at Angelo State by scoring 28 second-half points to break a 7-7 halftime tie.

• Angelo State at Western Colorado – 6 p.m. (RMACNet) The Mountaineers open at home in Gunnison, welcoming a formidable Lone Star Conference opponent to jump-start their RMAC campaign.  Western Colorado will be looking for its first win in eight games against Angelo State, which posted a 48-20 win over the Mountaineers in the last meeting between the two schools on September 12, 2015, in Gunnison.    While Angelo State was losing at home to Fort Hays State last Thursday, Western Colorado was defeating Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M 52-21 on the road in Canyon.  The two schools met once in the NCAA Division II Championships, with the Rams posting a 46-20 win over Western Colorado in the first round of the 1997 playoffs.  It was the same playoffs in which Northern Colorado posted four straight wins to capture the national title.

Saturday, September 5

• Duquesne at Air Force – 11 a.m. (MW+) The Falcons get an early morning start at Falcon Stadium, bringing their trademark rushing attack home to open the year against the Dukes. This is the first time Air Force and Duquesne are playing each other in football. Air Force enters the matchup with an all-time record of 29-0 against FCS opponents. Duquesne finished the 2025 season 7-5 overall and placed second in the Northeast Conference.  With Troy Calhoun starting his 20th season as the Falcon coach, AFA is coming off a 4-8 season and returning dual-threat quarterback Liam Szarka, who had 2,216 total yards in nine games last season (1,294 passing, 922 rushing) and accounted for 22 touchdowns (9 passing, 13 rushing).  GAME CENTER

• Colorado School of Mines at Washburn – 11 a.m. (MIAANet) The Orediggers hit the road to Topeka for a high-profile morning non-conference battle against MIAA foe Washburn.  In a series that dates back to 1953, with Washburn leading 13-7, Mines has won the last two meetings – 31-28 in 2024 at Topeka and 41-27 in 2025 in Golden.  In his first season as the Oredigger quarterback, Joseph Capra engineered the Mines offense that amassed 572 yards against the Ichabods, as he had 314 total yards (207 passing, 107 rushing, and three rushing touchdowns).  While Mines was losing its opener 22-20 to 22nd-ranked Western Oregon in Golden on Saturday, Washburn scored a 27-21 win over Truman State in Kirksville, Mo.

• Colorado Mesa at Eastern New Mexico – 2 p.m. (LSNET) The Mavericks travel south to Portales for a matchup against the Greyhounds’ unique triple-option scheme.  While Mesa was dropping a 38-14 decision to fifth-ranked Minnesota State in Grand Junction, Eastern New Mexico fell 35-34 to in-state rival New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas.  Art Briles is in his first season coaching the Greyhounds, as he was the 2013 AP College Football Coach of the Year.  He also led the University of Houston (2002-07) and Baylor (2008-15) to 10 bowl games and a 99-65 overall record.  Mesa leads the series 3-1 after posting a 28-7 win over the Greyhounds in Grand Junction last season when the Mavericks rallied from a 7-0 deficit. Quarterback Liu Aumavae’s third-quarter scoring pass gave the Mavericks a 14-7 lead with 3:14 left in the third quarter.

• Wyoming at Colorado State – 4 p.m. (USA) In Saturday’s marquee battle of the weekend in Fort Collins, the Rams host the Cowboys at Canvas Stadium for early bragging rights.  With CSU’s history, the Rams lead the series 59-52-5 heading into the earliest meeting between the two schools of the season.  Wyoming won last year’s game 28-0 to give the Cowboys a 32-26 advantage in the Bronze Boot portion of the series. The game will be Jim Mora’s first with the Rams as he inherits a team that was 2-10 last season and finished the campaign losing its last six contests by a combined score of 88-212. GAME CENTER

• Arizona Christian at Fort Lewis – 6 p.m. (RMACNet) The Skyhawks kick off their home slate in Durango under the Saturday evening lights.  In a way, the game is the season opener for both schools, as Fort Lewis’ first scheduled contest was last week in Liberty, Mo., against William Jewell.  With the host leading 7-0 in the first quarter, the game was canceled with 4:32 remaining after the death of a William Jewell player on its sideline.  Fort Lewis has won the last two meetings in the four-game series highlighted by a 58-10 win in Durango over the Firestorm.  The Skyhawks were 2-9 last season while Arizona Christian posted a 2-8 record.

• South Dakota at Northern Colorado – 6 p.m. (ESPN+ / Pirate 93.5) The Bears return to Greeley for their home opener, welcoming a tough Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent to punch up the early intensity.  Northern Colorado will attempt to bounce back from a heartbreaking 30-29 decision to Weber State last Friday in Greeley, where the Bears missed two extra point attempts in the Big Sky Conference opener.  South Dakota posted a 59-20 win last Saturday in Vermillion over Central Connecticut State.  The game will be the 38th all-time meeting, with the Bears leading 20-17.  The bulk of the contests were played when the two schools were members of the North Central Conference.  The Coyotes defeated UNC 24-17 in overtime last season.  The Bears have had control of their home field against the Coyotes, leading 12-6 in Greeley. South Dakota won the last meeting in Greeley in 2019 (14-6), but UNC’s last win in Greeley came in 2009 (UNC, 27-17).  UNC NOTES

• Adams State at Sul Ross State – 7 p.m. (LSNET) The Grizzlies wrap up the Week 1 schedule on the road in Texas, squaring off against Sul Ross State in a late-evening clash. It is the first meeting between the two schools, as Adams State looks to snap a 29-game losing streak.  The last Griz win was on September 30, 2024, in Las Vegas, N. M., when Adams posted a 21-14 win over Highlands. Both schools will be looking to rebound from season-opening setbacks, as Adams State dropped a 62-45 shootout in Alamosa to Western New Mexico, while Sul Ross State lost at home in Alpine, Tex., to Wayland Baptist, 34-20.  Adams State amassed 627 yards of total offense, including 476 on the ground, and scored six touchdowns in a back-and-forth season opener. Senior running back Andre Branch powered the Grizzly offense with 282 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 13.4 yards per carry. His night included touchdown runs of 58, 55, and 76 yards. Freshman Sul Ross State quarterback Will Howell completed 24-of-38 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 287 yards in total offense.

Here are last week’s results:

Thursday, August 27 results

• Western New Mexico 62, at Adams State 45 BOX SCORE
• #5 Minnesota State 38, at Colorado Mesa 14  BOX SCORE
• at #6 CSU Pueblo 44, Central Missouri 25 BOX SCORE
• #11 Western Colorado 52, at West Texas A&M 21 BOX SCORE

Friday, August 28 results

• Weber State 30, at Northern Colorado 29 BOX SCORE

Saturday, August 29 results

• #22 Western Oregon 22, at Colorado Mines 20 BOX SCORE / RECAP
• Fort Lewis at William Jewell, canceled READ MORE

IDLE – Air Force, Colorado & Colorado State