Know Wyoming’s Foe: CSU Rams

LARAMIE -- Any hopes of a comeback were dashed with nearly 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

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Wyoming's initial offensive drive of the second half resulted in a punt. So did seven other possessions on that forgettable night inside Canvas Stadium.

Colorado State took full advantage.

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi reeled in the shotgun snap and coasted a bit to his right as he went through his seven-step drop. The big-armed signal caller for the Rams, with a clean pocket in front of him, stepped into a picture-perfect throw, connecting with wideout Tommy Maher on a 53-yard touchdown strike.

It was the first catch of the season for the 5-foot-10, 170-pound speedster from California. He made lightwork of nickelback Wrook Brown on the corner route, giving CSU a 24-3 advantage.

"He caught a big play against us in '24 down there," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said. "I think he's a good player."

The final score -- Rams 24, Cowboys 10 -- could've been worse if it wasn't for one costly mistake from Maher. A fumble just before at the visiting goal line just before the half gave Wyoming a glimmer of hope.

There weren't many bright spots for the Rams last fall in Border War No. 117.

This time it was the CSU offense's turn to bungle its way through 60 minutes of football. That unit managed just 305 total yards, including a meager 94 on the ground. When they weren't busy punting -- there were six of those on 11 possessions -- quarterback Jackson Broussard was busy tossing interceptions. Desman Hearns snagged one of those. So did Markie Grant. Fort Collins native Jones Thomas hauled in the second one of the night, which led to a Wyoming touchdown just before halftime.

The Cowboys blanked the visitors, 28-0. It was the 11th shutout in a series that dates all the way back to 1899.

Maher, though, did cap the night with a team-best five catches. That accounted for 52 yards.

What does it all mean?

Absolutely nothing, if you ask Sawvel.

Neither does the fact that CSU has lost eight straight season openers, giving up nearly 46 points per game in the process. Those lopsided setbacks came at the hands of Texas, Michigan, and most recently, Washington. South Dakota State has also put an early damper on the party. So has Hawaii and Fresno State, among others.

Jim Mora didn't coach any of those teams. Pryce Tracy didn't call any of those plays, either.

The Rams have almost an entirely new staff, along with 36 new faces via the NCAA Transfer Portal. Eighteen of those came from UConn, following their head coach to Fort Collins. Linebacker Oumar Diomande, tight end Juice Vereen and quarterback K'saan Farrar highlight that group.

Safeties Jace Bellah, Elijah Mc-Cantos (App State) and TreShawn Moore (West Georgia) combined for seven interceptions last fall.

Wyoming's staff also suspects that even though the stats don't jump off the page, Maher won't be the only deep threat Saturday that they have to worry about.

"I think they've got a number of guys that will be good. They have a transfer that came in from Wake Forest that we anticipate will be a good player for them," Sawvel said, referring to RJ Vick. "... I think that they're going to be very skilled, offensively, at running back and receiver. They have got a very good tight end that came with them from UConn, as well."

Wideout Jordan Mosley has Power-4 playing time under his belt, spending time Northwestern and Mississippi State. Jaivyn Moore also caught 12 touchdowns last season at Iowa Western.

Sawvel and Co. have poured through all the UConn film they can stomach. They are in hopes the defense looks similar to last year's unit. Tyson Summers returns as the Rams' coordinator.

Like Mora, Sawvel said the only thing his team can and should focus on is themselves. It will be a guessing game early on both sidelines. That shouldn't dictate playing assignment-sound football, Sawvel added.

"It's a brand new group of coaches. They're very good coaches," he continued. "It'll be a brand new group of players. They've got some very good players. This will be a big challenge."

Mora wasn't showing his hand Monday during his initial press conference of the season, either.

"It's my experience that the best thing that you can do in any game, so that you avoid the ups and downs during a season that you see with teams, is to keep it about us and not about the things that we can't control -- the noise that's outside," he said. "I've been involved with some pretty significant rivalries, and I've always felt like the best thing we can do is just be the best that we can be on that day.

"In order to be the best we can do be on that day, it's about focusing on the process each day, leading up to that day: taking care of what we can control, not worrying about the things we can't control, and just going out and playing good, sound, fundamental, disciplined, tough, hard-nosed, smart football."

Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be televised on USA Network.

Meet the Rams:

* Head coach: Jim Mora (1st year) 73-53 all-time record at UCLA and UConn

* Offensive coordinator: Pryce Tracy (1st year); Defensive coordinator: Tyson Summers (2nd year)

* Record in 2025: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in Mountain West Conference

* Offense in 2025: Average 18.7 ppg, 324.2 ypg (108.3 rush, 215.9 pass)

* Defense in 2025: Allow 30.8 ppg, 426 ypg (204.9 rush, 221.1 pass)

* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: Hauss Hejny (QB - 5-10, 96 yds, TD; 4 rush, 27 yds, TD - Oklahoma State), K'saan Farrar (QB - 11-18, 84 yds; 9 rush, 30 yds, TD - UConn), Mel Brown (RB - 32 rush, 262 yds, 2 TD; 4 catch, 12 yds - UConn), Malichi Greaves (RB - 3 rush, 15 yds; 2 catch, 1 yd - UConn), Durell Robinson (RB - 3 rush, 57 yds, TD - Auburn), Tommy Maher (WR - 32 catch, 358 yds), Lavon Brown (WR - 22 catch, 244 yds), Jackson Harper (8 catch, 51 yds, TD - UConn), Jordan Mosley (WR - 8 catch, 168 yds, TD - Mississippi State), Jaivyn Moore (WR - 30 catch, 629 yds, 12 TD - Iowa Western), Terrence Smith (WR - 4 catch, 34 yds - UConn), Kojo Antwi (WR - 8 catch, 48 yds), Juice Vereen (TE - 22 catch, 310 yds, 5 TD - UConn), Nader Chirchi (TE - 3 catch, 45 yds - UConn)

* Key Returners - Defense: Oumar Diomande (LB - 116 tackles, 5 sacks, PBU - UConn), Jace Bellah (S - 58 tackles, 4 INT), Elijah Mc-Cantos (S - 56 tackles, 2 INT, 2 PBU - App State), TreShawn Moore (S - 54 tackles, INT, 2 FF, 2 FR, PBU - West Georgia), Stephon Wright (DL - 27 tackles, sack - UConn), Brandon Kelley (DL - 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks - UConn), CJ Blocker (CB - 23 tackles, INT, 3 PBU), Marc Pretto (LB - 29 tackles, 0.5 sacks, FR - Northern Illinois), Caleb Otlewski (LB - 79 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 2 PBU - Montana), Robby Harrison (DL - 16 tackles, sack - Western Kentucky)

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