Colorado State University Athletics
Three Phases: Rams Look at Fixes as Conference Play Begins
9/28/2025 2:00:00 PM | Football
Team has quick turnaround for road trip to San Diego State
Jay Norvell was clear in his messaging.
The record – 1-3 – is not what the Colorado State football coach envisioned exiting non-conference play. There are fixes which have to be made, a list he said includes himself. He was also clear to his team all is not lost, not with their aspirations in Mountain West play in front of them.
We're starting conference play next week at San Diego State and we've got a chance to rectify some things in that locker room and make sure that we get on the right page, Norvell said after the 20-3 loss to Washington State. I told our kids, I think we have good football players in that locker room. We've got some key guys that are injured right now. We've got some new players.
Obviously, we had some penalties tonight. We had a turnover in the first half. We were just not able to get over the hump and get any positive momentum going, and so we've got to find a way to do that. I mean, that's our job. That's my job.
Offense
Jackson Brousseau made his first start, completing 19-of-28 passes for 188 yards. The Rams had three different back who all averaged better than 5 yards per carry, though there was a fumble which ended one promising drive.
The other side of the ledger showed nine tackles for loss absorbed, including Brousseau being sacked four times. On third down, the Rams only converted five of the 13 tries and just once on four fourth-down attempts.
Outside of the first drive of the game which produced a field goal, the Rams couldn't sustain anything.
We just need more consistency, tackle Aaron Karas said. I mean, if we're able to do those things on first and second downs, we should be able to get third downs.
The unit has also lacked explosive plays to spark production. They had five in the game, but nothing of great note. Through four games, the longest pass play is for 47 yards, and Jalen Dupree's 27-yard run during the first drive is the longest rush of the season.
We just need a breakthrough. We need to make a big play and have some guys feel good about it, Norvell said. You know, momentum's a funny thing. Once you start getting it, then you start to gain confidence from it. Those kids in the locker room really need that right now. They need a little shot at confidence.
Defense
A unit which has played so well thus far had trouble stopping Washington State in the first half, allowing 20 unanswered points after the Rams scored. The Cougars had some success running the ball, which they hadn't had much of this season, and quarterback Zevi Eckhaus threw a pair of touchdown passes in the opening 30 minutes.
After 246 yards of offense in the first half, the Rams limited the Cougars to 101 the rest of the way.
We came out, we tackled a little better, executed our assignments, stayed together, never gave up on one another, to the right and to the left, JaQues Evans said. We said, let's go finish this ballgame, despite the scoreboard. So, that's one thing I say that was good. And just communication, getting everybody lined up, playing this one, and just keep fighting, play after play after play.
Linebacker Owen Long, who entered the night leading the country with an average of 12.7 tackles per game, finished with 14, additionally producing a pass break up on a third-down play. The unit was looking to create some chaos, but Washington State was clean on the night after turning the ball over nine times this season, and the Rams only had three tackles for loss.
Even still, it pitched a shutout in the second half, opening the door for a comeback.
Special Teams
A team is always in constant change throughout a season, and the only switch wasn't at quarterback. Dagen Myers was sent back to return punts for the first time in the redshirt freshman's career, performing well.
His lone return went for 15 yards, and Norvell was impressed with the decisions the youngster made.
Dagan's really a smart player, really dialed in, really focused, prepares fantastically, Norvell said. I thought that he would really do a good job back there as a punt returner and make good decisions and catch the ball, and he did that tonight. And I think he'll give us some good returns as well.
Isaiah Hankins opened the game with a 50-yarder but missed a later attempt from 44 yards to close the first half, then had an attempt blocked in the fourth quarter. While both of Bryan Hansen's two punts covered more than 50 yards (including one of 60), the Rams surrendered a 42-yard punt return that led to a WSU score in the first half.
As the Rams head into conference play, the belief remains the same.
I believe in the kids in that locker room, and I think that we have the basis for a good, solid football team, Norvell said. We just need to get back on track, and we need to win. We need to win. We need to get going and build some momentum with this group.
