GAME 1
Colorado State 65,
Savannah State 13
Date: Sept. 5
Where: Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo.
What went down: The Rams scored just 47 seconds into the game on a fumble recovery by Kevin Davis and cruised to a 52-point win over visiting Savannah State. The margin of victory was CSU’s largest since 1997, when it beat Hawaii 63-0.
The big number
5 Quarterback Nick Stevens threw passes to five different receivers and his backup, Coleman Key, found a sixth receiver for a score late in the game.
GAME 2
Minnesota 23,
Colorado State 20, OT
Date: Sept. 12
Where: Hughes Stadium
What went down: Minnesota defensive end Scott Ekpe stripped running back Dalyn Dawkins on the first play of overtime and Ryan Santoso kicked a game-winning field goal moments later, lifting the Golden Gophers to a 23-20 win. The loss snapped CSU’s school-record, nine-game home winning streak dating back to 2013.
The big number
10 Key took over for Stevens late in the third quarter and sparked CSU’s offense. The Rams scored 10 points in a span of 5:12 and retook the lead.
GAME 3
Colorado 27,
Colorado State 24, OT
Date: Sept. 19
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
What went down: Colorado’s Tedric Thompson blocked Wyatt Bryan’s 27-yard field goal attempt in overtime and Buffaloes kicker Diego Gonzalez hit a 32-yard kick, propelling CU to a win over its rival. The overtime game was CSU’s second in a row but just the fifth in program history.
The big number
66,253 The attendance at Sports Authority Field, home of the NFL’s Broncos, was the largest since 2008.
GAME 4
Colorado State 33,
UTSA 31
Date: Sept. 26
Where: The Alamodome, San Antonio
What went down: Stevens threw for three touchdown passes, and the Rams converted on two key third downs in the fourth quarter and held on for a two-point victory over the winless Roadrunners. Jasen Oden ran for a career-high 143 yards on 30 carries.
The big number
0 The Rams did not turn the ball over in their win.
GAME 5
Utah State 33,
Colorado State 18
When: Oct. 3
Where: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, Logan, Utah
What went down: Utah State quarterback Kent Myers threw for 137 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 191 yards and a score as the Aggies thumped CSU in the teams’ Mountain West Conference opener. CSU receiver Rashard Higgins caught 11 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort.
The big number
32The teams were delayed 32 minutes after halftime because of lightning. Utah State led 17-10 at the time, then outscored the Rams 16-8 the rest of the way.
GAME 6
Boise State 41,
Colorado State 10
When: Oct. 10
Where: Hughes Stadium
What went down: Boise State scored 17 consecutive points in the first quarter and cruised to a blowout win. Boise State receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes sparked the team with a 53-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Thomas Sperbeck.
The big number
597 Boise State racked up 597 yards of total offense in the victory.
GAME 7
Colorado State 38,
Air Force 23
When: Oct. 17
Where: Hughes Stadium
What went down: Stevens threw for a career-high 296 yards and three touchdowns and Oden rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns as CSU won the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the second consecutive year. Coach Mike Bobo gave Stevens a vote of confidence before the game, assuring him that Key wouldn’t take over the starting job.
The big number
8 Eight different CSU receivers caught passes, with five of them catching three passes or more.
GAME 8
San Diego State 41,
Colorado State 17
When: Oct. 31
Where: Hughes Stadium
What went down: Donnel Pumphrey ran for two touchdowns and caught a third score as the Aztecs rolled to an easy win and improved to 5-0 in conference play for the first time as a Division I-A school. Colorado State trailed 13-10 at halftime, then watched as SDSU outscored it 28-7 in the second half.
The big number
21 CSU’s first 21 plays went for positive yards.
GAME 9
Colorado State 26,
Wyoming 7
When: Nov. 7
Where: Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
What went down: Dawkins ran for 140 yards on 25 carries and CSU scored 17 consecutive first-quarter points to win handily. The Rams put up 348 yards of offense, 228 of it coming on the ground.
The big number
23 CSU held Wyoming to just 23 yards in the first quarter.’
GAME 10
Colorado State 49,
UNLV 35
When: Nov. 14
Where: Hughes Stadium
What went down: Higgins caught three touchdown passes and the Rams put up 534 yards of total offense in a runaway victory over the Rebels. The team’s 325 rushing yards were its most since a 2013 win over New Mexico.
The big number
2 Fullback Nu’uvali Fa’apito, a converted defensive lineman, scored two touchdowns — each from 1 yard out.
GAME 11
Colorado State 28,
New Mexico 21
When: Nov. 21
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque
What went down: Kevin Pierre-Louis intercepted a pass with 1:11 remaining, and the Rams escaped with a seven-point victory. The win made CSU bowl-eligible for the third consecutive season and eliminated New Mexico from the Mountain West Conference’s Mountain Division championship, allowing Air Force to clinch.
The big number
3 CSU intercepted three of New Mexico’s 10 pass attempts.
GAME 12
Colorado State 34,
Fresno State 31
When: Nov. 28
Where: Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, Calif.
What went down: Joe Hansley returned two punts for touchdowns and caught a 24-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass as CSU wrapped up the regular season with a three-point win over Fresno State. The Rams returned three kicks for touchdowns, the first time any team had done so in 10 seasons.
The big number
4 The win at Fresno gave CSU its fourth true road win of the season and the team’s 10th out of its last 14. Before that, CSU had lost 10 in a row on the road.
