September 15th 2024.
The much-anticipated Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado State and the CU Buffs had everyone on the edge of their seats. The Rams were determined to make a strong statement but unfortunately, it was not the one they had hoped for. Despite initially taking the lead with a field goal, the Rams eventually fell to a disappointing 28-9 loss to the Buffs. A combination of poor offensive execution, untimely penalties, and four turnovers sealed their fate and extended their losing streak in the rivalry series to seven games.
As the dust settled and the excitement died down, the Rams were left with a lot of questions to answer. The recent announcement of CSU's move to the Pac-12 in 2026 had been overshadowed by their loss to CU. Can their struggling offense find its rhythm? Has their talented quarterback, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, taken a step back? And most importantly, do they have what it takes to break their six-year bowl drought in the third season under head coach Jay Norvell?
Disappointed with the outcome, Norvell shared, "We just weren't good enough tonight. I'm disappointed in the turnovers and penalties that cost us. We needed to play a clean game and unfortunately, we didn't. We also missed out on some opportunities in the first half that could have made a difference." He took full responsibility for the team's performance and acknowledged that they have a long season ahead of them.
The Rams' signature Air Raid offense was grounded by the Buffs' defensive coordinator, Robert Livingston. Although Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 209 yards, most of it came after the game was already out of reach. He also had two interceptions, including one on the Rams' opening possession of the second half that effectively sealed their fate. Wide receiver Tory Horton, who is known for his explosive plays, was playing injured and it showed in his performance. He only had two catches for 24 yards before being pulled out of the game.
On the defensive side, the Rams struggled to put pressure on the Buffs' quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, who threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns. After a shaky first quarter, Sanders looked comfortable in the pocket and was only sacked once. Norvell acknowledged the Buffs' explosive players and the consequences of giving them too many opportunities to make plays.
In addition to their lackluster performance, the Rams made a few costly mistakes that added fuel to the fire. In the first half alone, they were unable to convert on several key plays due to mistimed snaps, off-target throws, and missed opportunities. Norvell admitted, "Our passing game wasn't up to par today. We couldn't get open enough and when we did, we couldn't make the plays. I also have to look at our protection because our quarterback was under a lot of pressure."
Unfortunately, the turning point of the game came in the third quarter when Fowler-Nicolosi made a crucial error, reminiscent of his 16 interceptions in the Mountain West Conference last year. After forcing a punt on the Buffs' first drive of the second half, Fowler-Nicolosi made a risky throw while scrambling and it was easily picked off by senior cornerback Preston Hodge. The Buffs capitalized on the turnover and extended their lead to 21-3 with a touchdown catch by Travis Hunter.
Fowler-Nicolosi took full responsibility for his mistake, saying, "That was just a mental error on my part. There was no need for me to make that throw." Unfortunately, the mistakes didn't end there for the Rams. They turned the ball over three more times on the Buffs' side of the field, including a fumble by Keegan Holles, another interception by Fowler-Nicolosi, and a botched snap by Jacob Gardner. The sellout crowd of 40,099, which was a record for a CSU home game, was already leaving the stadium when Gardner's fumbled snap was recovered by the Buffs.
Norvell expressed his disappointment, saying, "I appreciate all the fans that came out tonight. I wish we could have given them more to cheer about." The Rams' last victory in the Rocky Mountain Showdown was in 2014 and their last win against CU in Fort Collins was in 1955 when the university was still known as Colorado A&M. As they process this loss and look ahead to the rest of the season, the Rams have a lot of work to do in order to bounce back and prove themselves.
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