Colorado State (8-5, 6-1 Mountain West in 2024) at Washington (6-7, 4-5 Big Ten in 2024)
When/where: 9 p.m. Saturday/Husky Stadium
TV/Radio: B1G Network/Rams Radio Network
BetMGM Line: CSU +21.5, 53.5 over/under
Weather: 59 degrees, party cloudy
Series History: First meeting
Three storylines
Next up on defense: Who’s going to step up for the Rams against UW? CSU lost its six leading tacklers from 2024, including linebackers Buom Jock (transferred to Cal) and Chase Wilson (graduated). Plus, the unit has a new/old boss in DC Tyson Summers. How the Rams fare in ’25 depends largely on how quickly this new-look defense can come together. Three of CSU’s captains will play a pivotal role in that starting Saturday: linebackers Owen Long and Jacob Ellis, plus defensive lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji.
Keeping it competitive: This is the fourth straight season the Rams open against an opponent above their weight class, with three of those previous games coming in hostile road environments. Recall: a 51-7 drubbing at Michigan in ’22, a 52-0 annihilation at Texas last year, and a 50-24 blowout at home to Washington State sandwiched between those two routs. The Huskies, two years removed from a national championship appearance, are still a college football force. Can CSU keep it respectable?
Rams’ offensive balance: CSU leaned on its run game heavily throughout the second half of ’24, relegating QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to a game-manager role. Saturday will be an interesting test to see how the Rams see their offensive identity, especially if they don’t get down big and aren’t forced to constantly air it out. Justin Marshall will be the featured back, while BFN needs wideout Jordan Ross and tight end Jaxxon Warren to find momentum early against the Huskies.
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Washington 42, Colorado State 21
Let’s get smarter about scheduling these openers, Rammies. Even after a 6-7 growth year in the first season of the Jedd Fisch Era and first campaign in the Big Ten, UW is still more talented than CSU. The defense leaves something to be desired on Saturday, showing that all the new pieces will need more time to gel. Meanwhile, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throws a couple of game-changing picks that get the Rams offense out of rhythm before halftime.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Washington 30, Colorado State 20
BFN needs to be BMOC against the Huskies. Can he find that gear on a big-time, Big Ten stage? As a collegian, Rams QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has completed 59.5% of his passes in true road games, which is good. He’s also sporting a 1-for-1 TD-to-interception ratio (14-14) in those road games. Those are the kind of numbers that can leave you Sleepless in Seattle in a game where CSU will need to be close to perfect in order to win.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Washington 34, Colorado State 14
Three touchdowns is a hefty spread, even when it’s a Mountain West team opening up its season in a rowdy Big Ten environment. That said, CSU sure is picking a heck of a spot to break in a brand new defense. In this new college football world, Year 2 is often when new coaches pop. And that’s what this is for Jedd Fisch and the Huskies. A late Rammies touchdown is the only thing that keeps the Dawgs from covering.
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