The Colorado State football team takes a “Ram Walk” before the game against Colorado
Video of the Colorado State football team performing the “Ram Walk” before entering Canvas Stadium before their game against Colorado.
After a year of anticipation, the 2024 Rocky Mountain Showdown is here.
It’s the Travis Hunter Show. The Colorado football star scored two touchdowns, over 100 yards of gains and an interception as Colorado rolled over Colorado State.
This is how it happened:
Colorado 28, State of Colorado 9
Shedeur Sanders throws four touchdowns. Travis Hunter has more than 100 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns and an interception in his superstar performance.
Findings: Colorado State defeats Colorado football team in front of record home crowd
– Kevin Lytle
CSU gets into CU’s red zone, but a snap at the wrong time ends with CU recovering a fumble.
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On fourth and 1, Avery Morrow takes the Wildcat Direct Snap, breaks through the line and travels 64 yards until he reaches the CU 4.
A few plays later, Justin Marshall (returning from injury) scores a 5-yard touchdown. CSU fails on a 2-point attempt. CU leads 28-9 with 9:58 left.
– Kevin Lytle
Shedeur Sanders with a 21-yard pass to Travis Hunter, who took complete control in the second half.
He now has 12 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.
CU leads 28-3 with 13:20 minutes left.
– Kevin Lytle
Colorado 21, Colorado State 3.
CU has a 3rd and 9 at its own 46 early in the fourth quarter.
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Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throws an interception that is caught by Travis Hunter.
Hunter now has a touchdown reception and an interception in the third quarter.
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CU quickly gives the ball back to CSU. Isaiah Augustave loses the ball (forced by Buom Jock) and Chase Wilson recovers it.
CSU ball at CU’s 43. CU leads 21-3 with 1:24 left in the third quarter.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU finally gets something going on offense (including two fourth-down drives) and gets as far as CU’s 5-yard line, but then Keegan Holles loses the ball in a battle for yards.
It has been a brutal day for the CSU offensive so far.
– Kevin Lytle
At the Rocky Mountain Showdown, over 40,000 spectators were present and there was room to stand outside the door.
This is a spectator record for a CSU home game.
– Kevin Lytle
CU quickly takes advantage of CSU’s loss of possession. Two plays later, Shedeur Sanders hits Travis Hunter for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
The score is 21-3 for CU, with 10:11 minutes left in the third quarter.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU forces CU to punt on the first drive, but CSU’s first series ends quickly when Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi forces a throw over the middle across his body.
CU gets the ball at CSU’s 12.
– Kevin Lytle
The first quarter went largely the way CSU wanted, but the Rams stumbled in the second quarter and CU took advantage.
Two touchdown passes from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester give CU a 14-3 halftime lead. CU receives the second half kickoff. CU has 223 yards of offense to 116.
Shedeur Sanders is 20-27 for 167 yards and has never been sacked. Wester has three catches for 55 yards. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is just 6-10 for 54 yards.
– Kevin Lytle
A bad penalty by CU puts CSU within range for a long field goal attempt to end the half. However, the 52-yard field goal attempt goes wide left.
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The connection between Sanders and Wester is bubbling. The quarterback hits the speedy wide receiver completely free and runs for a 34-yard touchdown.
The CSU defense received another costly penalty on this drive and CU managed 84 yards in nine plays in 2:33 minutes.
CU leads 14-3 with 58 seconds left before halftime.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU’s offense really lacks identity with Justin Marshall out injured. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has just 12 passing yards late in the first half.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU appeared to have forced CU to a 3rd and 13, but a late hit to Andrew Laurich kept the drive alive.
CU took advantage. Shedeur Sanders threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester. CU gained 85 yards in 12 plays in 5:51 minutes.
CU now leads 7-3 with 5:51 left until halftime.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU running back Justin Marshall was injured on the first play of a Rams drive.
At this point, he has completed eight runs of 45 yards.
– Kevin Lytle
While it’s still early, CSU’s defense looks good. Shedeur Sanders has completed 7 of 10 passes and hasn’t been sacked, but has only thrown for 27 yards.
– Kevin Lytle
CSU has a 3rd and 7 at their own 42 at the beginning of the second quarter.
CSU leads against CU 3:0.
– Kevin Lytle
CU drives to the CSU 25-yard line, but Elias Larry helps deflect a pass on third down and Buffs settle for a long field goal.
Alejandro Mata shoots from 40 meters wide to the right.
CSU still leads 3-0.
– Kevin Lytle
Jordan Noyes kicks a 25-yard field goal. CSU managed 48 yards in eight plays.
Thanks to a strong run by Justin Marshall, CSU was inside the 10-yard line. A mistimed snap on second down thwarted the attempt into the red zone.
CSU 3, CU 0, 7:23 minutes left in the first quarter.
– Kevin Lytle
This is expected to be the largest home crowd in Colorado State football history, and it’s officially excited.
– Kevin Lytle
CU has had trouble passing the ball. Isaiah Augustave starts at RB.
– Kevin Lytle
CU wins the coin toss and defers. CSU has the ball first.
– Kevin Lytle
There are plenty of NFL scouts and executives in attendance, and there is some NFL talent in the game. Also on the list was Denver Broncos General Manager George Paton.
– Kevin Lytle
Colorado State receiver Tory Horton is participating in warmups and is expected to play in some capacity.
– Kevin Lytle
With the boombox in tow, Shedeur Sanders enters the stadium.
Shedeur Sanders enters Canvas Stadium with a boombox in tow
Video of Colorado football quarterback Shedeur Sanders entering Canvas Stadium before the game against rival Colorado State.
– Kevin Lytle
Colorado State receiver Tory Horton left last week’s game with an injury. Here he enters Canvas Stadium at Ram Walk. There is no official word on his status, but sources say he is expected to play.
– Kevin Lytle
- Date: Saturday, September 14
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins, Colorado)
- TV channels: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+ and FuboTV
- Radio: The CSU broadcast is available on KUAD 99.1 FM, ESPN 1600 AM (Denver), SiriusXM channel 971/381 and the TuneIn app.
Colorado vs. Colorado State will be televised nationally on CBS, with Rich Waltz and Ross Tucker providing commentary from the Canvas Stadium locker room and Tiffany Blackmon reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Paramount+, CBS’s subscription streaming service, and FUBO, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
Watch Colorado vs Colorado State on Paramount+
- Series record: Colorado leads 68-22-2
- Last victory of the CSU: 2014 (31-17)
- CU’s last victory: 2023 (43-35 in 2OT)
Local reporters Kevin Lytle and Scott Procter analyze the game here.
Procter: The Buffs are using the embarrassment of last week’s loss to rival Nebraska and all the offseason talk surrounding this matchup to finally come in with the right mindset. Shedeur Sanders is rebounding from a rough game, Travis Hunter is getting revenge, and CU’s pass rush is having its best game of the season.
CU 31, CSU 21
Lytle: It is winnable. We should make that clear. CSU may win this game. But as I wrote in my preseason predictions column, I need to see CSU prove it can win these big games. The potential lack of pass rush combined with CU’s ability to make big passes is the biggest concern.
27 CU, 20 CSU
BetMGM’s lines and odds for Saturday:
- Spread: CU is favored by seven points
- Over/Under: 58.5
Star receiver Tory Horton injured his groin last week against UNC, but the Rams hope to have him back. There’s no definitive announcement on his status yet, but CSU is “hopeful” he will play.
It would be a surprise if Horton wasn’t involved in some way, although he probably won’t be 100%.
CU safety Shilo Sanders will miss the Rocky Mountain Showdown as he is out for 2-3 weeks.
- August 31: No. 4 Texas 52, CSU 0
- September 7: CSU 38, UNC 17
- September 14: vs. Colorado, 5:30 p.m., CBS
- September 21: vs. UTEP, 3 p.m., truTV
- October 5: at Oregon State, 4:30 p.m., The CW
- October 12: vs. San Jose State, 1:30 p.m., truTV
- Oct. 19: at Air Force, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
- Oct. 26: vs. New Mexico, 3 p.m., Mountain West Network/Altitude Sports
- November 2: in Nevada, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
- November 15: vs. Wyoming, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
- November 23: at Fresno State, 8:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
- November 29: vs. Utah State, TBA, FS1
- August 29: Colorado 31, North Dakota State 26
- September 7: Nebraska 28, Colorado 10
- September 14: At Colorado State, 5:30 p.m. on CBS
- September 21: Against Baylor (home game), 6:30 p.m. on FOX
- September 28: In Central Florida
- October 5: Bye
- October 12: Against Kansas State
- October 19: In Arizona
- Oct. 26: Vs. Cincinnati (Family Weekend)
- November 2nd: Bye
- November 9: At Texas Tech
- November 16: Against Utah
- November 23: At Kansas (at Arrowhead Stadium)
- November 29 (Friday): Against Oklahoma State, 10 a.m. ABC
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
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