SAN JOSE STATE IN COLORADO STATE
Records: San Jose State (4-1, 2-0 Mountain West); Colorado State (2-3, 0-0 Mountain West)
Start: 12:30 p.m., Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, Colorado.
TV: TruTV/Max
Radio: KRTB (860 AM)
Series history: Colorado State leads the series 7-5 and has won 4 of the last five meetings. San Jose State won the last game of 2022 at CEFCU Stadium 28-16.
Storylines: Head coach Ken Niumatalolo won't announce his starting quarterback until kickoff after Walker Eget replaced Emmett Brown last week. … San Jose State hasn't won a matchup in Fort Collins since 2013, when it went 34-27. … This is the Rams' first conference game of the season, making them last within the Mountain West to start their conference schedule. … Tory Horton and Nick Nash are two receivers on the Biletnikoff Award watch list who will probably be featured on this game. … San Jose State has won its last eight conference games since last season. … Colorado State center Jacob Gardner is poised to begin his 51st consecutive game and currently leads all lively Mountain West players in profession starts.
Matchup to observe: San Jose State wide receiver Justin Lockhart versus Colorado State cornerback Dom Jones. Opponents have began doubling Nick Nash, giving Lockhart 1-on-1 duels with opposing corners. He had one catch of not less than 35 yards in SJSU's last three games. Jones is probably the greatest boundary corners within the Mountain West with five pass deflections. Both are 1.80 meters tall and just one pound separates them in stature.
Injuries: Spartans defensive lineman Quincy Likio is out for the season with a hand injury that Niumatalolo announced at Tuesday's press conference.
Cornerback Michael Dansby has suffered a concussion all week and will probably be a call in the sport.
Key stats: Nick Nash leads the nation with 55 catches but only has 12 in two conference games to this point. … Colorado State is an incredibly balanced team with 880 passing yards and 873 rushing yards this season. … San Jose State is the eighth-best passing offense within the country, averaging 328.6 yards per game. … The Rams rank a hundred and thirtieth in the whole FBS in red zone defense, allowing a touchdown from that zone 92.9% of the time. … The Spartans have forced 13 turnovers this season, good for fifth within the nation. … Colorado State's Tory Horton is a threat at returner, having accomplished 4 punts for 103 yards and a touchdown.
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