Six Questions as BYU Travels to Face Colorado State

BYU travels to Fort Collins to tackle a former Mountain West Conference rival in Colorado State. The Rams host the Cougars as BYU ranks No. 11 within the AP ballot. Kickoff is ready for five:30 MT on CBS. Let’s check out six questions forward of BYU’s first street sport.

Why are the Cougars enjoying a street sport at a Group of Six location?

BYU is within the Big 12 Conference now. Fans scratch their head at them now touring to play groups not within the “power conference” class. Colorado State is now within the PAC-12, which is actually a department of the Mountain West. This weekend was imagined to be the large matchup with the Miami Hurricanes. When BYU joined the Big 12, its schedule shifted to 9 convention video games, leaving far fewer nonconference slots. Meanwhile, some video games that had been on BYU’s future schedule had been rearranged because the Big 12 advanced.

In September 2024, BYU introduced its revised future schedule, together with the brand new home-and-home with Colorado State, with the Rams making the return journey to Provo in 2029. Given the late nature of the transfer off of Miami, choices had been restricted. Still, followers really feel like BYU ought to have held out for one more sport at LaVell Edwards Stadium as an alternative of travelling to an ex-Mountain West foe.

What damage issues does BYU have?

Three BYU starters are anticipated to be out for the sport towards Colorado State on account of accidents. Two had been recognized just a few weeks in the past in security Raider Damuni and operating again Sione Moa. Linebacker Siale Esera is the brand new addition. He performed simply three snaps towards Arizona earlier than leaving with a decrease physique damage and by no means returning. The Cougar workers appears to be like like they’ll maintain him out for this sport. Perhaps they hope to parlay this into two weeks off, with the Cougars getting a bye following this sport.

Nusi Taumopeau appears to be like to take Esera’s place in the midst of the BYU protection for Kelly Poppinga. Aside from that, the Cougars received out of the Arizona sport comparatively wholesome.

What challenges does Colorado State QB Hauss Hejny current?

Hejny has accomplished 65.1% of his passes for 539 yards, 9 touchdowns and one interception. The Rams have additionally been producing explosive passing performs of their first two video games. He additionally has 124 dashing yards and a landing on the bottom. The Rams have scored 93 factors of their first two video games. Granted, the opponents had been Wyoming and Southern Utah. BYU is a significant step up in weight class.

He additionally has Big 12 Conference expertise, even when it’s just a bit. He frolicked on TCU and Oklahoma State’s rosters during the last two seasons. At instances, each packages deployed him as a operating quarterback for a trick play or sub bundle. He’s received a rocket arm and is fast on his toes. BYU’s protection can’t afford to lose their assignments when dashing him or he could have massive lanes to take off and get key conversions.

Is this lastly the sport LJ Martin crosses 100 yards?

It’s been virtually merciless. Neither towards Utah Tech nor Arizona has Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, reached the tip zone. Against Arizona, he was tackled inside the ten yard line as the sport closed out, narrowly lacking a landing and the chance to succeed in 100 yards. He completed with 98. If Martin has visions of changing into BYU’s all-time main rusher, which requires him to get north of 1,350 dashing yards this yr, he must have an enormous sport towards the Rams.

The Rams rank 111th in dashing yards allowed and 118th in yards per carry allowed. BYU’s offensive line ought to have the ability to impose their will on the Rams and get Martin his greatest sport of 2026 but.

What is the historical past between Colorado State and BYU?

As talked about, the Cougars and Rams had been beforehand convention rivals, not as soon as, however twice. They had been additionally within the previous WAC earlier than the Rams and Cougars joined the newly fashioned Mountain West Conference in 1999. This means there’s some critical historical past between the 2. This sequence dates again to 1922 with 69 complete matchups. BYU owns the sequence edge 39-27-3, together with seven straight. The final time Colorado State beat BYU, it was in 2003. The Rams had an explosive offense that preyed on a middling Cougars squad. They crushed BYU 58-13.

Can BYU cowl the large unfold?

Anytime a group is a 17.5-point favourite on the street, that may increase some eyebrows. Many seemingly will hedge bets on the Rams offense holding them inside that quantity. However, that is the third consecutive yr the Cougars have traveled to a non-power convention venue. Against Wyoming in 2024 and East Carolina in 2025, the Cougars gained by a mixed rating of 68-27. They have largely taken care of enterprise within the current period of BYU soccer below Kalani Sitake. Despite Colorado State getting off to an explosive begin this yr, it’s troublesome to see that altering for the Cougars.

Prediction: BYU 37, Colorado State 17