Injuries will play a big role in Colorado's trip up to Fort Collins for the 2024 Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado State.
Safety Shilo Sanders will be out for approximately three weeks after suffering a broken forearm in the second quarter against Nebraska last week. Sanders posted on social media earlier this week that he underwent a successful surgery and vowed to return to action soon. Through two games, the senior is fourth on the team with eleven tackles (eight solo).
Leading rusher Dallan Hayden is expected to sit out this game with an undisclosed injury suffered during the 28-10 Cornhuskers win. Hayden produced the team's best rushing performance of the season and ran for 32 yards on five carries last week.
The Buffs could also be without the services of defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo. The senior suffered a joint ACL injury last week, but head coach Deion Sanders spoke to the media on September 10 that he's hopeful for Nwankwo to play this week. Nwankwo has two tackles and a sack so far this season.
During the game last week, Cornerback Isaiah Hardge suffered a foot/ankle injury, but there's no update at the time of this writing. Linebacker LaVonta Bentley was also injured, but coach Sanders also indicated in his weekly presser that Bentley could be good to go for Saturday.
Colorado needs to play a complete game to win the last Rocky Mountain Showdown for a long time
Despite having an even win-loss record, the Buffs have been consistently hot and cold through two games.
The offense was a juggernaut in the Week 1 victory over NDSU, averaging 252 yards per half, scoring 31, and the OL allowing one sack. But the high-powered offense sputtered for most of the game last week against the Cornhuskers. In the loss, they averaged 130 yards per half (114 total in the first half), scored ten points, allowed six sacks, and were shut out until early in the third quarter.
Defensively, the Buffs were Hyde in the first half but turned into Jekyll in the second half in both games this season. CU gave up an average of 24 points and 227.5 yards in the first thirty minutes but allowed only six total points and 164 yards on average.
Penalties were a nuisance for the Buffs last week as well. They were flagged eight times for 104 yards, compared to only three penalties for thirty yards in the opener.
Colorado needs to play near-perfect and productive football against the Rams, who have a similar trend in the season's early stages.
Shedeur Sanders in elite company, Travis Hunter honored once again
Shedeur Sanders is among the best QBs in college football, but the latest stats proved he's in the upper tier of quarterbacks.
Since 2021, Sanders has been one of four quarterbacks in Division I (FBS/FCS) football with the third most passing yards (10,893) and has thrown more touchdowns (102) in the nation over that span.
CB/WR Travis Hunter received another accolade for his solid offensive performance. Hunter earned his second straight Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll after tallying 110 yards on 10 catches in the loss to Nebraska.
Get to know CSU
The Rams have reversed their ways for the better in week two after being crushed by Texas in the opener.
Last week, Colorado State defeated Northern Colorado 38-17. The Rams offense tallied 426 offensive yards (246 rushing), and the defense allowed only 296 yards. Keegan Hollies led the rushing assault with 10 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 180 yards and a touchdown. LB Buom Jock led the CSU with nine tackles.
In the Rams' opener against the Longhorns, they were throttled 52-0 by Texas's excellent performance, one of the top contenders for the national championship. CSU was anemic offensively (192 net yards) despite running back Justin Marshall's 106 rush yards on 25 carries, and the defense gave up 545 yards.
It'll be interesting to see which Colorado State team shows up. Historically, the Rams are on the losing end.
The Buffs lead the all-time series with a record of 68-22-2, winners of six straight and 14 out of the last 18 games.