Fresno State (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) at Colorado State (1-4, 0-1 Mountain West)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/Rams Radio Network 99.1 FM
BetMGM Line: CSU +6.5, 47.5 over/under
Weather: 56 degrees, cloudy
Series History: CSU leads 10-3, but Fresno State has won two straight
Three storylines
Rams’ anemic offense: A switch at QB from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Jackson Brousseau a few weeks ago has done little to spark the struggling CSU offense. The Rams rank 10th in the Mountain West in scoring at 17 points per game, and they’re going against a stout Fresno State defense that ranks 30th nationally in total yards allowed per game (308.2) and is second in the Mountain West in scoring defense (19.5 points per game). The pick-happy Bulldogs are also second in FBS with nine interceptions by six different players.
The Owen Long factor: No wonder Long, a sophomore, was voted the youngest captain in Jay Norvell’s coaching tenure. The linebacker is the nation’s leading tackler, averaging 13.6 total tackles. He is also second nationally in total tackles with 68, two behind Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock, whose Bulls have played one more game than the Rams. Fellow linebacker Jacob Ellis has been banged up, so it will be up to linebacker JaQues Evans and cornerback Lemondre Joe (eight pass break-ups) to also carry the defensive load for CSU.
Jay Norvell’s hot seat: The Rams came into this season expecting to compete for a conference title in their final season in the Mountain West before moving to the Pac-12 in 2026. Their performance thus far indicates CSU is far from ready to make that jump. The Rams’ lone win was a squeaker over FCS Northern Colorado, where a last-second TD bailed them out from a massive upset. This season’s already been a disappointment. After dropping the conference opener, Norvell’s Rams are running out of chances.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Fresno State 38, CSU 13
Another Rams shellacking that underscores the fact it’s not a matter of if CSU fires Jay Norvell, but when. The Rams defense is shredded by Bulldogs QB E.J. Warner, while the CSU offense stays in first gear until finding its rhythm too little, too late. If you think the boos for Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi in the loss to UTSA game were bad, just wait for what the CSU student section has in store for Norvell on Friday.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Fresno State 28, CSU 20
Fans are fed up. The Rams are beat up. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Bulldogs are what we’d call a “soft” 5-1, they got run over by Kansas and they have zero wins over anybody of consequence. If you want a second, Fresno State is averaging almost two giveaways per game on the road. If CSU’s defense can keep the Bulldogs’ RB duo of Bryson Donelson and Rayshon Luke in front of them and keep Jackson Brousseau within shouting distance, anything’s possible. Then again, what did you see at San Diego State that convinces you the Rams can keep anybody close right now?
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Fresno State 20, CSU 17
It’s hard to pinpoint what the Rams have going for them at the moment, outside of freshman running back Jalen Dupree. They’re bottom third in the FBS in total offense (101st) and total defense (97th), and neither unit played all that well in San Diego last weekend — even after a play-caller change on offense. These next two home games against FSU and Hawaii are Jay Norvell’s last best chance to turn things around. If it doesn’t happen now, it might never happen.
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