Football fans in the Centennial State are in for a thrilling mid-October slate as teams hit the gridiron on Thursday (October 15), and Saturday (October 17).

From a Pac-12 Conference battle under the lights in Texas on Thursday to Big XII Conference action in Boulder late Saturday, with hard-hitting Big Sky, Mountain West, and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clashes in between, Colorado squads are gearing up for high-stakes football.

Here are previews of the games featuring teams from the Centennial State, complete with records, historical head-to-head notes, and players to watch.

Thursday, October 15

Colorado State (2-3 overall, 0-1 Pac-12) at Texas State (2-3 overall, 0-1 Pac-12)

• Time/Broadcast: 6 p.m., CBSSN / Rams Radio Network

• Location: Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium, San Marcos, Texas

• The Matchup: The Rams hit the road for a Pac-12 game down in Texas in the first meeting between the two schools in the newly aligned conference. Both schools had a weekend to prepare after Colorado State lost at home to Oregon State 56-26, and the Bobcats fell 31-29 to San Diego State on October 3.  Thursday’s game will be Texas State’s fourth home game in its last five contests, while CSU will be playing in the Lone Star State for the second time in the last four weeks.

Saturday, October 17

Adams State (0-6, 0-4 RMAC) at Chadron State (1-5, 0-4 RMAC)

• Time/Broadcast: 1 p.m., RMACNet

• Location: Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium, Chadron, Neb.

• The Matchup: An RMAC battle on the high plains. Both squads are looking to get their first conference win and snap losing streaks. In a series dating back to 2012, Chadron State leads 11-2 with six straight victories, including a 45-2 win on October 4, 2025, in Alamosa, when current Eagle quarterback Aidan Thompson threw for four touchdowns.  The Grizzlies are seeking to snap a 34-game losing streak.  Both teams enter the contest after having a weekend off.

Colorado Mines (3-2-1, 3-1 RMAC) at Colorado Mesa (3-3, 2-2 RMAC)

• Time/Broadcast: 1 p.m., RMACNet

• Location: Stocker Stadium, Grand Junction, Colo.

• The Matchup: With both schools competing to stay in contention for post-season play, Colorado Mines will look to win its fourth straight game, while Colorado Mesa seeks to rise above .500. Mesa will look for its third straight win over the Orediggers as the Mavericks lead the all-time series 33-16.  The Mines defense has stifled the opposition (Fort Lewis, Chadron State and Black Hills State) in its past three games, allowing only two touchdowns (both by pass) and 82 rushing yards.  The Mesa defense features three of the RMAC’s top four tacklers: La’Markus Reed (66 tackles), Dane Vigil (58), and Gibson Leafgreen (56).  Both teams enter the contest after having a weekend off.

UNLV (4-2, 2-0 Mountain West) at Air Force (4-1, 2-1 Mountain West)

• Time/Broadcast: 1:30 PM, CBSSN / KVOR AM 740

• Location: Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, Colo

• The Matchup: A crucial Mountain West conference showdown. Air Force’s disciplined, option-based attack prepares to host the high-flying UNLV Rebels after the Falcons lost starting quarterback Liam Szarka for the season. UNLV (369.7 yards per game) and Air Force (400.0) lead the Mountain West in scoring, but for different reasons. Air Force rushes for nearly 325.6 yards per game, while UNLV takes a balanced approach, with 178.2 yards per contest on the ground and 191.5 through the air.  The Falcons average 974.4 yards per outing (23 completions on 48 attempts with four interceptions).  Air Force leads the series 18-8, but the Rebels won the last two games, including a 51-48 shootout last season in Vegas.

New Mexico Highlands (3-3, 1-3 RMAC) at CSU Pueblo (6-0, 4-0 RMAC)

• Time/Broadcast: 2 p.m., RMACNet / REV 89.5 The Revolution

• Location: The ThunderBowl, Pueblo, Colo.

• The Matchup: Fourth-ranked CSU Pueblo hosts New Mexico Highlands for homecoming as the Pack seeks its 30th straight RMAC win.  The ThunderWolves lead the series 24-5 after posting their fifth straight win over the Cowboys last season, including a 59-13 win in Las Vegas.  Highlands, which ranks ninth in the RMAC in total defense (454.7 yards per game), must stop the nation’s No. 3 offense (552.8 yards per contest).   Both teams enter the contest after having a weekend off.

Fort Lewis (2-3, 1-3 RMAC) at Western Colorado (6-0, 4-0 RMAC)

• Time/Broadcast: 6 p.m., RMACNet

• Location: Mojo Field at the Mountaineer Bowl, Rady Family Sports Complex, Gunnison, Colo.

• The Matchup: While Fort Lewis competes for respectability in the RMAC, the seventh-ranked Mountaineers grind toward a championship showdown against CSU Pueblo as the two schools meet in the regular-season league finale in the Steel City on November 14.  As a backup quarterback the past two seasons, Josiah Roy led Western Colorado to wins over the Skyhawks.  The Mountaineers have won the last seven games in the series by an average score of 43-8.  Both teams enter the contest after having a weekend off.

• Players to Watch: Western Colorado’s lead running backs will look to control the tempo and wear down the Skyhawks’ defensive front.

Cal Poly (4-3, 3-1 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (2-5, 1-3 Big Sky)

• Time/Broadcast: 6 p.m., ESPN+ / 93.5 FM, pirateradio935.com

• Location: Nottingham Field, Greeley, Colo.

• The Matchup: Big Sky Conference action comes to Greeley as Northern Colorado looks to be a spoiler, with Cal Poly tied atop the league standings with only one setback. The Bears still haven’t figured out the quarterback room, with three players, Kenny Lueth (9 plays, 110 total yards), Brayten Silbor (7, 47), and Keegan Patterson (34, 173), seeing action in their last game at Eastern Washington.

Utah (5-0, 2-0 Big XII) at Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big XII)

• Time/Broadcast: 8:15 PM, ESPN2 /  KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM

• Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.

• The Matchup: Primetime under the lights in Boulder as the two schools meet for the 73rd time, with the Utes leading 36-33-3 after a 53-7 win in Salt Lake City last season.  For the second straight game, the Buffs will host a ranked team in Boulder, with the Utes ranked 11th in both polls.  Who will quarterback the Buffs will be a topic of discussion throughout the week, given the lack of wins since Shedur Sanders and Travis Hunter departed.

Thursday, October 15 Schedule

• Colorado State at Texas State, 6 p.m., CBSSN

Saturday, October 17 Schedule

• Adams State at Chadron State, 1 p.m., RMACNet
• Colorado Mines at Colorado Mesa, 1 p.m., RMACNet
• Nevada-Las Vegas at Air Force, 1:30 p.m., CBSSN
• New Mexico Highlands at CSU Pueblo, 2 p.m., RMACNet
• Fort Lewis at Western Colorado, 6 p.m., RMACNet
• Cal Poly at Northern Colorado, 6 p.m., ESPN+
• Utah at Colorado, 8:15 p.m., ESPN2