Washington State (2-2) at Colorado State (1-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
When/where: 5:30 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium
TV/Radio: CBSSN/Colorado State Sports Network KUAD 99.1 FM
BetMGM Line: CSU -4.5, 50.5 over/under
Weather: 56 degrees, clear
Series History: Washington State leads, 2-1
Three storylines
Brousseau Time: After head coach Jay Norvell benched three-year starter Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi in last week’s loss to UTSA, Norvell announced this week that Jackson Brousseau will get his first collegiate start against Wazzu. Brousseau came in against UTSA in the fourth quarter and provided a spark with two touchdown drives that could’ve won CSU the game, had the Rams converted on a last-second two-point conversion. CSU needs Brousseau to elevate a passing game that ranks 97th in FBS at 191.7 yards per game.
Injury Issues: CSU was without two key weapons in its aerial attack last week, as both tight end Jaxxon Warren and wideout Jordan Ross did not play against UTSA due to injury. Armani Winfield led CSU in receiving with six catches for 93 yards in the duo’s absence. Norvell said that CSU will “hopefully have an opportunity to get them back this week.” Ross can stretch the field, while the 6-foot-8 Warren is a matchup problem at all levels. On defense, senior lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji (knee) is out for the season.
Wazzu’s Air Raid: While Norvell’s Air Raid offense hasn’t looked the part since 2023, there’s no doubt what the Cougars’ offensive identity is, as 80.3% of WSU’s yardage has come through the air. The CSU secondary, led by defensive backs Ayden Hector, Jahari Rogers and Lemondre Joe, will need to be ready. The back end of the Rams’ defense has mostly held up this season, allowing 186.3 passing yards per game and surrendering just two passing touchdowns (one of which was a pass to a running back in the flat last week).
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Washington State 28, CSU 27
It’s hard to know what to make of Wazzu, which squeaked by Idaho in its opener, beat San Diego State, and now has given up 59 points in consecutive blowout losses to North Texas and Washington. But something is off with this CSU team, and Jackson Brousseau won’t be able to suddenly fix the Rams’ offense. A second straight Canvas Stadium heartbreaker as the Cougars march the field and score in the final minute to win.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: CSU 26, Washington State 23
Would you believe UTSA would beat Wazzu seven times out of 10? And no, it’s not fair to pin the Rams’ failures all on one guy. But it’s also hard to ignore the elephant in Jay Norvell’s room. In Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s first 31 drives as QB1, CSU averaged 1.45 points per possession. In Jackson Brousseau’s two cracks at QB1, the Rams averaged 6.5 points per drive. The truth is probably in the middle with Brousseau starting, but that’s OK. If CSU hangs onto the ball and averages 2.8 points per drive Saturday, they’ll probably win comfortably. Which would make a nice change of pace from the collective teeth-gnashing in FoCo lately.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: CSU 27, Washington State 21
Jay Norvell desperately needs a victory to turn around what’s rapidly becoming a lost season. Time to ready the kitchen sink, Coach. If Norvel is ever going to win back the CSU fanbase, it starts with beating a future Pac-12 rival. If Jackson Brousseau is as competent as he looked last week, that’s doable against a Cougars team that just lost its Super Bowl to UW in the Apple Cup.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.