San Jose State (4-1) at Colorado State (2-3)
When/where: 1:30 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: truTV/Rams Radio Network
BetMGM Line: CSU +1.5, O/U 56.5
Weather: 83 degrees and slightly cloudy
Three storylines
CSU’s finishing ability: The Rams were on the verge of an upset last week at Oregon State, but just couldn’t close the door. CSU stormed back from a 21-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter and took a three-point lead with 1:56 to play. But the defense failed to get a stop to seal the victory, instead allowing a long drive and a field goal to force overtime. After losing in double OT, the Rams dropped to 1‐7 in overtime games since 2000. To beat SJSU, the Rams need to find an X-factor in the waning minutes. It would also be helpful if they could avoid all of the penalties (13 for 82 yards) that contributed to their downfall in Corvallis.
SJSU streaking: The Spartans are 10-2 in their last 12 games overall, and have won eight straight conference games dating back to 2023. Their lone loss this season was in a double-OT shootout at Washington State on Sept. 20. Even after losing last year’s head coach Brent Brennan to Arizona, the program has continued its momentum into this fall under former longtime Navy boss Ken Niumatalolo. CSU’s won four of its last five games against SJSU, but the Spartans won the most recent meeting, 28-16, in San Jose in 2022.
Wideout show: While Rams star Tory Horton returned from a groin injury last week against OSU and made his presence felt (nine receptions, 158 yards and a TD) SJSU also features a dynamic wideout in Nick Nash. The converted QB leads all FBS players with 55 catches, 11.0 receptions per game and nine receiving TDs while racking up 712 yards. The last time the Spartans played in Fort Collins, in 2021, Nash started at QB. Whatever secondary can contain the other’s top aerial threat will have a huge advantage.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: CSU 28, SJSU 27
The Rams break through with their first signature win of the season over a quality Spartans team. The visitors are ahead by 10 points at halftime, but an interception by Jack Howell plus another 100-plus yard game by Tory Horton — along with a pair of rushing TDs by Avery Morrow — help CSU rally for the win. And the CSU defense, which has consistently failed to come up with a big stop over the past two seasons, forces another turnover on SJSU’s final drive in the game’s waning minutes.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: San Jose State 35, CSU 30
This is the third top-10-in-the-FBS passing offense the Rams have faced this season. The other two? Texas and CU. Those matchups got ugly. This one shouldn’t. CSU ought to be able to run the ball at will on every opponent they face the rest of the way. But can the Rams run it well enough to keep Nick Nash and Emmett Brown on the sideline for hours at a time? And can CSU fans cope with a one-possession heartbreaker? Because this feels like another one.
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Matt Schubert, sports editor: CSU 33, SJSU 31
Jay Norvell is running out of opportunities to prove he’s the coach who can lead the Rams into the Pac-12. This and next week’s visit to Air Force might be his last best chances to do so. Could it be that QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s performance (20 of 30, 263 yards, 2 TDs) at Oregon State signaled a turning of a corner? Did the emergence of senior RB Anthony Morrow and return of a healthy Tory Horton unlock a fully operational CSU offense? If the Rams are going to match touchdowns with an explosive SJSU offense, they better hope so.
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