# 2023 Colorado State Rams football team

The 2023 Colorado State Rams football team represented Colorado State University as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach Jay Norvell, the Rams played home games at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Colorado State Rams football team drew an average home attendance of 26,509 in 2023.

## Preseason
### Mountain West media poll

The 2023 Mountain West preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Rams were predicted to finish seventh in the conference.
Mountain West Conference media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Boise State | 433 (28) |
| 2 | Air Force | 364 (2) |
| 3 | Fresno State | 351 (5) |
| 4 | San Diego State | 338 (1) |
| 5 | San Jose State | 293 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 281 |
| 7 | Colorado State | 201 |
| 8 | Utah State | 194 |
| 9 | UNLV | 177 (1) |
| 10 | Hawaii | 102 |
| 11 | Nevada | 92 |
| 12 | New Mexico | 60 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 5:00 p.m. | Washington State* | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | CBSSN | L 24–50 | 31,497 |
| September 16 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Colorado* | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown, College GameDay, Big Noon Kickoff) | ESPN | L 35–43 $^{2OT}$ | 53,141 |
| September 23 | 5:00 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee* | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPN+ | W 31–23 | 19,806 |
| September 30 | 5:00 p.m. | Utah Tech* | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | MW Network | W 41–20 | 27,932 |
| October 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at Utah State | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | MW Network | L 24–44 | 22,864 |
| October 14 | 7:45 p.m. | Boise State | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | FS1 | W 31–30 | 34,901 |
| October 21 | 5:00 p.m. | at UNLV | Allegiant StadiumParadise, NV | MW Network | L 23–25 | 22,585 |
| October 28 | 5:30 p.m. | No. 19 Air Force | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO (rivalry) | CBSSN | L 13–30 | 22,570 |
| November 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at Wyoming | War Memorial StadiumLaramie, WY (Border War) | CBSSN | L 15–24 | 27,905 |
| November 11 | 5:00 p.m. | San Diego State | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | CBSSN | W 22–19 | 22,033 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Nevada | Canvas StadiumFort Collins, CO | MW Network | W 30–20 | 20,121 |
| November 25 | 9:00 p.m. | at Hawaii | Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics ComplexHonolulu, HI | MW Network | L 24–27 | 11,013 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 7) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Washington State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 7 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 50 |
| Rams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 24 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: September 2nd
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Wind: SW at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 31,497
* Referee: Jeff Dahle
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan (play-by-play), and Corey Chavous (analyst)
| Statistics | Washington State | Colorado State |
| First downs | 30 | 18 |
| Plays–yards | 556 | 357 |
| Rushes–yards | 90 | 37 |
| Passing yards | 466 | 320 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | -- | -- |
| Time of possession | 37:40 | 22:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Washington State | Passing | Cam Ward | 27-49,451 yards, 3 TDs |
| Washington State | Rushing | Cameron Ward | 13 rushes, 40 yards, TD |
| Washington State | Receiving | Lincoln Victor | 11 receptions, 168 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 13-20, 210 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Avery Morrow | 11 rushes, 29 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Justus Ross-Simmons | 5 receptions, 123 yards, TD |

### at No. 18 Colorado

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Rams | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| No 18 Buffaloes | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 43 |
at Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado
* Date: September 16th
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. MST/7:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: SW at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) • Weather: Clear
* Game attendance: 53,141
* Referee: Mike McCabe
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | Colorado State | No. 18 Colorado |
| First downs | 24 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 87-499 | 72-418 |
| Rushes–yards | 102 | 70 |
| Passing yards | 397 | 348 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 35-48-3 | 38-47-1 |
| Time of possession | 34:37 | 25:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 34-47, 367 yards, 3 TDs |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Kobe Johnson | 15 carries, 54 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 16 receptions, 133 yards, 1 TD |
| No. 18 Colorado | Passing | Shedeur Sanders | 38-47, 348 yards, 4 TDs |
| No. 18 Colorado | Rushing | Dylan Edwards | 10 carries, 57 yards |
| No. 18 Colorado | Receiving | Xavier Weaver | 9 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD |

### at Middle Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 10 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Blue Raiders | 10 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
* Date: September 23rd
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST
* Game attendance: 19,806
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
| Statistics | Colorado State | Middle Tennessee |
| First downs | 18 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 378 | 430 |
| Rushes–yards | 33 | 151 |
| Passing yards | 345 | 279 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 31-44-1 | 30-41-0 |
| Time of possession | 26:03 | 33:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 30-43, 321 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Avery Morrow | 6 carries, 20 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Dallin Holker | 11 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Nicholas Vattiato | 30-41, 279 yards, 2 TDs |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Nicholas Vattiato | 15 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Holden Willis | 9 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD |

### vs Utah Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trailblazers (FCS) | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Rams | 14 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 41 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: September 30th
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: SW at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 27,932
* Referee: Christian Watson
* TV announcers (MW Network): TBD
| Statistics | Utah Tech (FCS) | Colorado State |
| First downs | 18 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 68–349 | 63–586 |
| Rushes–yards | 35–164 | 29–112 |
| Passing yards | 185 | 474 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–33–1 | 27–34–2 |
| Time of possession | 34:19 | 25:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Utah Tech (FCS) | Passing | Kobe Tracy | 21/33, 185 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Utah Tech (FCS) | Rushing | Ronnie Walker Jr. | 20 carries, 83 yards |
| Utah Tech (FCS) | Receiving | Rickie Johnson | 8 receptions, 69 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 26/32, 462 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Vann Schield | 16 carries, 54 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 10 receptions, 227 yards, 3 TD |

### at Utah State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 17 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Aggies | 3 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 44 |
at Maverik Stadium • Logan, Utah
* Date: October 7th
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. MST/5:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 22,864
* Referee: Michael Cuttone
* TV announcers (MW Network): TBD
| Statistics | Colorado State | Utah State |
| First downs | 20 | 28 |
| Plays–yards | 83–320 | 84–639 |
| Rushes–yards | 26–95 | 55–252 |
| Passing yards | 225 | 387 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 26–57–3 | 19–29–2 |
| Time of possession | 27:10 | 32:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 26/57, 225 yards, 3 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Kobe Johnson | 17 carries, 56 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Louis Brown IV | 6 receptions, 54 yards |
| Utah State | Passing | Cooper Legas | 19/29, 387 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT |
| Utah State | Rushing | Davon Booth | 14 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD |
| Utah State | Receiving | Terrell Vaughn | 8 receptions, 143 yards, TD |

### vs Boise State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 7 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 30 |
| Rams | 0 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 31 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: October 14th
* Game time: 7:45 p.m. MST/6:45 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 46 °F (8 °C) • Wind: SE at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 34,901
* Referee: Jonathan Noli
* TV announcers (FOX/FS1/FS2): TBD
| Statistics | Boise State | Colorado State |
| First downs | 23 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 66–384 | 75–401 |
| Rushes–yards | 43–246 | 21–42 |
| Passing yards | 138 | 359 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15–24–2 | 32–54–1 |
| Time of possession | 34:23 | 25:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Boise State | Passing | Maddux Madsen | 10/16, 110 yards, INT |
| Boise State | Rushing | Ashton Jeanty | 31 carries, 212 yards, 3 TD |
| Boise State | Receiving | Ashton Jeanty | 5 receptions, 42 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 32/54, 359 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Vann Schield | 15 carries, 51 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 10 receptions, 130 yards |

### at UNLV

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
| Rebels | 0 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 25 |
at Allegiant Stadium • Las Vegas, Nevada
* Date: October 21st
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 22,585
* Referee: Nolan Dumas
* TV announcers (MW Network): Steve Cofield and Matt Neverett
| Statistics | Colorado State | UNLV |
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 64–372 | 82–491 |
| Rushes–yards | 31–137 | 46–138 |
| Passing yards | 235 | 353 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–33–1 | 27–36–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:05 | 33:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 21/32, 235 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Vann Schield | 11 carries, 90 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Dallin Holker | 4 receptions, 80 yards |
| UNLV | Passing | Jayden Maiava | 27/36, 353 yards |
| UNLV | Rushing | Vincent Davis | 17 carries, 63 yards, 2 TD |
| UNLV | Receiving | Jacob De Jesus | 9 receptions, 120 yards |

### vs No. 19 Air Force

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Falcons | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 30 |
| Rams | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: October 28th
* Game time: 5:30 p.m. MST/4:30 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 26 °F (−3 °C) • Wind: E at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) • Weather: Snow
* Game attendance: 22,570
* Referee: Michael Cuttone
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), and Brandon Baylor (sideline)
* ESPN – No. 19 Air Force overcomes snow, snowballs in 30-13 win over Colorado State to stay unbeaten
| Statistics | Air Force | Colorado State |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Plays–yards | 64–293 | 64–339 |
| Rushes–yards | 57–261 | 19–42 |
| Passing yards | 32 | 297 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 4–7–0 | 28–45–0 |
| Time of possession | 35:58 | 24:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Air Force | Passing | Zac Larrier | 4/7, 32 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Rushing | Emmanuel Michel | 20 carries, 130 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Receiving | Brandon Engel | 1 reception, 14 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 28/45, 297 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Vann Schield | 14 carries, 53 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Justus Ross-Simmons | 8 receptions, 128 yards, TD |

### at Wyoming

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
| Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
at War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming
* Date: November 3rd
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. MST/5:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 27,905
* Referee: Patrick Foy
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis, Robert Turbin, and Emily Proud
| Statistics | Colorado State | Wyoming |
| First downs | 20 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 63–274 | 67–334 |
| Rushes–yards | 21–54 | 45–194 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 140 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 24–42–2 | 15–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 23:20 | 36:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 24/42, 220 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Avery Morrow | 11 carries, 39 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 7 receptions, 58 yards |
| Wyoming | Passing | Andrew Peasley | 15/22, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Harrison Waylee | 29 carries, 128 yards |
| Wyoming | Receiving | Alex Brown | 2 receptions, 32 yards |

### vs San Diego State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aztecs | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| Rams | 5 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 22 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: November 11th
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Sunny, Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C), Wind: SW 5 mph
* Game attendance: 22,0333
* Referee: Kenneth Ray
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Malik Zaire (analyst)
| Statistics | San Diego State | Colorado State |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 57–273 | 75–427 |
| Rushes–yards | 32–145 | 44–183 |
| Passing yards | 128 | 244 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 19–25–0 | 18–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:13 | 30:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| San Diego State | Passing | Jalen Mayden | 19–25, 128 yards |
| San Diego State | Rushing | Cam Davis | 9 carries, 67 yards |
| San Diego State | Receiving | Mark Redman | 4 receptions, 53 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 17–30, 202 yards, 1 INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Justin Marshall | 18 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Justus Ross-Simmons | 4 receptions, 89 yards |

### vs Nevada

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Rams | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado
* Date: November 18th
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST/12:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: SE at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 20,121
* Referee: Cal McNeill
* TV: MWN
| Statistics | Nevada | Colorado State |
| First downs | 21 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 73–327 | 65–414 |
| Rushes–yards | 43–133 | 34–169 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 245 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–30–2 | 15–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 35:30 | 24:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Brendon Lewis | 18/24, 169 yards |
| Nevada | Rushing | Sean Dollars | 20 carries, 69 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Dalevon Campbell | 5 receptions, 72 yards |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 15/30, 245 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Justin Marshall | 19 carries, 98 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 6 receptions, 78 yards, TD |

### at Hawaii

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Rainbow Warriors | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
at Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex • Honolulu, Hawaii
* Date: November 25th
* Game time: 9:00 p.m. MST/8:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: E at 11 miles per hour (18 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 11,013
* Referee: Christian Watson
* TV: SPEC PPV
| Statistics | Colorado State | Hawaii |
| First downs | 21 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 67–425 | 69–497 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–108 | 24–151 |
| Passing yards | 317 | 346 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 26–38–1 | 31–45–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:12 | 30:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 26/38, 317 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Justin Marshall | 20 carries, 94 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Tory Horton | 9 receptions, 186 yards, TD |
| Hawaii | Passing | Brayden Schager | 30/43, 320 yards, TD |
| Hawaii | Rushing | David Cordero | 5 carries, 52 yards |
| Hawaii | Receiving | Steven McBride | 6 receptions, 82 yards, TD |