Rams await Sunday's bowl announcement

Dec. 1, 2016

The Colorado State Rams, at 7-5 (5-3 MW), have qualified for a bowl game for the fourth year in a row, the second-longest streak in school history. CSU is one of just three Mountain West teams with a bowl streak of four games or longer, joining Boise State (15) and San Diego State (7).

Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4, the team will learn its bowl destination and opponent. Information on tickets and travel packages will be made available so fans can plan their trip to cheer on the Rams in the bowl game.

The Rams enter the postseason with great momentum, having won four of their last five games, and five of their last seven, including a 63-31 win at San Diego State (9-3) last Saturday to cap the regular season.

Colorado State will play in its 16th bowl game, and 15th since 1990. The Rams have a record of 6-9 in their 15 bowl appearances, with the last win coming in the 2013 New Mexico Bowl when CSU overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat Washington State 48-45.  

The Rams will practice Friday and Saturday this week, then resume practice next week once their official bowl plans are put into place.

REGULAR SEASON NOTES:

CSU (7-5; 5-3 MW) is bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season, its best stretch since going bowling five years in a row from 1999-2003. The team will learn its bowl destination and opponent on Sunday, Dec. 4.
The Rams’ opponents in 2016 have combined for a record of 61-50 (.550), making it the 27th-toughest schedule in all of FBS.
      Eight of the Rams’ opponents this season have qualified for bowl games, and seven have won 8 or more games.
      CSU’s five losses came against teams with a combined record of 45-15 (.750)
Over the last five games, in which the Rams are 4-1…
      CSU has outscored opponents 237-134, an average score of 47.4-26.8 per game
      CSU has outscored opponents 172-62 in the first half, for an average halftime score of 34.4-12.4
      CSU’s offense is averaging 47.4 points and 520.6 yards per game (274.4 rushing)
CSU has won five of its last seven games, with its two losses being by a combined eight points.
In two seasons under head coach Mike Bobo, the Rams are 7-1 in the month of November, including 4-1 on the road.
CSU has won two of its last three road contests, and since the 2013 season, has won 12 of its last 19 true road contests – its best stretch since 2001-03.
Eight Colorado State student-athletes were recognized this week by the Mountain West when all-conference teams were announced, including first-team All-MW selections for junior wide receiver Michael Gallup, senior punter Hayden Hunt and senior offensive lineman Fred Zerblis. Second-team honors went to junior center Jake Bennett and senior linebacker Kevin Davis, while senior offensive lineman Nick Callender.
The Rams’ 63-31 win over San Diego State (9-3) last Saturday snapped the Aztecs’ 10-game home winning streak that had been the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
The win guarantees the Rams a winning record for the fourth year in a row, the first time since CSU posted a winning record in 10 consecutive seasons from 1994-2003 under Sonny Lubick.
CSU scored 63 points against the Aztecs, who entered the game as the nation’s eighth-best scoring defense, allowing just 16.9 points per game (10.8 in Mountain West play).
The 63 points were a season most for CSU (surpassing the previous week’s 49 vs. New Mexico) and the highest total since CSU scored 65 in the 2015 season opener vs. Savannah State (9/5/15).
The 63 points were the most allowed by SDSU since 2008 and most scored by CSU on the road since scoring 66 in a win at New Mexico in 2013.
SDSU entered the game ranked in the top 10 nationally for rushing offense (283.4 yards per game; seventh) and rushing defense (97.2; third). The Rams out-rushed the Aztecs, 291-194.
Heisman Trophy candidate RB Donnel Pumphrey, who entered the game ranked second in the nation with 168.6 rushing yards per game, was limited to 53 net yards (2.9 yards per carry). It was his lowest rushing output since his freshman season (Dec. 21, 2013 vs. Buffalo; 2 carries for 2 yards).
Senior LB Kevin Davis led all Rams defenders with nine tackles, pushing his season total over 100 (101) for the second year in a row.
Senior WR Robert Ruiz returned an SDSU punt 91 yards for a touchdown, the longest in school history. The previous long was 90 yards by Glen Davis in 1926.
      It was CSU’s first punt-return touchdown since Joe Hansley scored two in the 2015 regular-season finale at Fresno State (11/28).
Junior WR Michael Gallup is tied for first in the MW (T-15th FBS) in touchdown receptions with 11; ranks second in the MW (30th FBS) in receptions (70) and second (16th FBS) in receiving yards (1,164) after catching seven passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns in the win at San Diego State.
      Gallup’s 11 receiving touchdowns rank second in CSU history (trailing only Higgins’ nation-leading 17 in 2014). His 70 receptions and 1,164 receiving yards both rank fifth in single-season history.
      Gallup is the eighth Ram (10 times total) to have three touchdowns in a game. All-America WR Rashard Higgins holds the school record with four (vs. Tulsa, 10/4/14).
      Saturday’s performance marked Gallup’s fourth consecutive game with 100-plus receiving yards. He is averaging 148.5 yards per game during that span.
      Gallup has scored a touchdown in seven consecutive games, and has 11 scores over the past 10 contests.
QB Nick Stevens completed 10 of 15 passes for 210 yards and a season-best four touchdowns.
      In six starts since returning to the starting lineup, Stevens is 98-of-137 (71.5%) for 1,414 yards and 14 touchdowns passes and two rushing scores, compared to just one interception.
      Stevens leads the MW and ranks seventh in FBS in passing efficiency at 165.7. 
      Stevens’ 36 career touchdown passes are tied for eighth in school history, with Justin Holland (2002-05).
      Stevens' career completion percentage of .655 (108-165) is on pace to break the school record of .647 by Pete Thomas (253-391) set in 2010. He currently ranks fourth on CSU's all-time career list at .622 (334-537).

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