Game Notes: Colorado State to host Nevada for Homecoming

Colorado State (4-2, 2-0 MW) vs. Nevada (1-5, 1-1 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 | 8:15 p.m. MT
Sonny Lubick Field at CSU Stadium (36,500 / 41,000 SRO) | Fort Collins, Colo.
Homecoming Information & Events

QUICK HITS - COLORADO STATE

Colorado State returns to play in its new on-campus stadium next Saturday for the first time in more than a month, with its Homecoming game vs. Nevada. It will be the first night game at the new stadium.
CSU's last home game was Sept. 9, a 38-10 win over Abilene Christian.
Saturday's game will be the first on-campus homecoming game since the 1967 season.
The Rams (4-2) are now 2-0 in MW play for the first time since starting 2-0 in 2005, with both wins coming on the road at Hawaii (9/30) and Utah State (10/7).
The last time the Rams won their first two MW road games was 2002—the program's last MW championship season—and the last time the Rams began MW play with their first two games on the road, and won both, was 1994—also an MW championship season.
The offensive line did not surrender a sack for the fourth consecutive game, and has allowed just two this season to rank 4th among all FBS teams (0.33 per game). Both sacks came against Colorado (9/1/17), meaning the Rams have played 5 of their 6 games without allowing a sack.
Colorado State leads the MW and ranks third in FBS in third-down conversions (54.1%), and ranks third in total first downs (160; 26.7 per game).
Defensively, the Rams rank seventh among all FBS schools in red zone defense (62.5%), and have allowed opponents into the red zone just eight times in 2017.

QUICK HITS - NEVADA

Jay Norvell was hired as the 26th head football coach in Nevada program history on Dec. 9, 2016.
Norvell earned his first win as a head coach last week as the Wolf Pack defeated Hawai'i 35-21.
Junior Ty Gangi has returned to the starting quarterback role and has thrown for 1007 yards and 10 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Senior WR Wyatt Demps has been one of the Wolf Pack's top targets through the first six games of the season. Demps leads the team with 39 receptions and is averaging 11.2 yards per catch.
True freshman WR McLane Mannix turned some heads in the season opener at Northwestern, racking up 76 yards on just two catches, but he has since followed that up with even more impressive outings. The Texas native caught six passes against Toledo, including a 75-yard touchdown reception, and added seven grabs against Idaho State.
The Wolf Pack defensive front has led the team in the first half of the season, ranking sixth in the country with 8.3 tackles for loss per game.
Senior LB Austin Paulhus leads the Mountain West and ranks 12th in the country with 1.7 tackles for loss per game.
Nevada has forced nine turnovers on the season, a figure that ranks 46th in the nation.
Junior CB Vosean Crumbie's interception in the third quarter against Hawai'i was his second of the season and gives him picks in back-to-back games.

CSU HOMECOMING NOTES
The first "homecoming" was established by former CSU president Dr. Charles Lory in 1914 to bring alumni back to the campus at least once a year. On October 3, 1914, a football team made up of alumni players faced the Varsity team; the Alumni won 3-0. The game was designed as a pre-season scrimmage that was meant to bring former students and players back to the campus and have alumni involved with their old college after graduation. The alumni vs. varsity tradition lasted only a few years at homecoming and later moved to spring.

No intercollegiate "homecoming" games were found in newspaper files until 1922, which is when the tradition of playing the annual contest during the regular football season began. Except for WWII, the homecoming game has been played continuously since.

There have been 93 "Homecoming" games played since 1922; the 2017 game will be the 94th contest. CSU has a 48-44-1 record on homecoming day with a lone tie in 1951 against Utah State.
Colorado State has played Utah State 19 times on homecoming, more than any other school; the last time was a 31-24 win.

Six homecoming games have been played in the month of September, 70 in the month of October and 17 in the month of November.

• CSU has won its last three homecoming games:
   Oct. 18, 2014 vs. Utah State (W, 16-13)
   Oct. 17, 2015 vs. Air Force (W, 38-23)
   Oct. 8, 2016 vs. Utah State (W, 31-24)

• CSU has played Nevada for homecoming once - a 66-17 win on Oct. 19, 1974.

SERIES NOTES

CSU and Nevada have met on the gridiron 14 times, with CSU winning 11 of those contests.
The Rams are a perfect 7-0 against the Wolf Pack in Fort Collins, last meeting in 2013.
CSU won the first eight meetings in the series, spanning 1974-2005.
The Rams and Wolf Pack have both been members of the Western Athletic Conference, but never at the same time. CSU was in the league from 1967-1998, while Nevada joined a year later (2000-12). The Rams are 2-0 since the Wolf Pack joined the Mountain West prior to the 2013 season.
During the 2013 season, CSU won five of its last seven games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, including a 38-17 home win over Nevada.
CSU's 31-24 road win at Nevada in 2014 improved the Rams' record to 5-1, the first time they started the season with a 5-1 mark since 2000. Dating back to the previous season, CSU had won seven of its last eight games, and was in the midst of what would become a nine-game win streak.

CSU ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMERS VS. NEVADA
The Rams have had nine players rush for at least 100 yards against the Wolf Pack, including Kapri Bibbs' school-record 312-yard performance on Nov. 9, 2013.

Five CSU receivers have eclipsed 100 yards receiving against Nevada, with Rashard Higgins and his 194 yards as a sophomore being the most recent (Oct. 11, 2014).

Four CSU quarterbacks have thrown for at least 300 yards, including current QB Nick Stevens (310 yards vs. Nevada on Dec. 29, 2015 in the Arizona Bowl).

DEFENSE MAKES STATEMENT
The Rams defense had one of its most dominant performances in recent history, recording seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss, while allowing just 212 total yards in CSU's 27-14 win at Utah State. The seven sacks are the most by the Rams defense since 2011, while the 212 yards allowed is the fewest by an FBS opponent since 2013.

In his first start of the season, sophomore DE Arjay Jean led the Rams with six tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. True freshman LB Emmanuel Jones recorded the first two sacks of his career, while Richard King, Caleb Smith, Jakob Buys and Evan Colorito tallied the Rams' other sacks.

QUICK STARTS IN MW
En route to a 2-0 start in conference play, the Rams have been dominant in the first quarter, outscoring Mountain West opponents 31-0 and outgaining them 365-31 in total yardage. Dating back to last season, the Rams have led after the first quarter of eight consecutive Mountain West games.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
CSU is 2-0 in the new on-campus stadium. The Rams had a 5-1 record in home games in 2016, and have won five in a row at home and eight of their last nine (and 18 of their last 22) games in the friendly confines of Fort Collins dating back to a win over UNLV on Nov. 14, 2015.

Over that nine-game stretch, CSU has averaged 37.6 points, with an average scoring margin of 15.4 points.

GOING FOR 500 (& 600)
CSU has eclipsed 500 yards of total offense four times this season, and reached 600-plus yards twice. Under Coach Bobo and offensive coordinator Will Friend, the Rams have exceeded 500 yards of total offense 13 times (4 in 2015, 5 in 2016, 4 in 2017).

The Rams posted 610 yards at Hawaii on Sept. 30 - a season high and the most under Coach Bobo. The total also ranks 10th all-time.

STEVENS HONORED FOR STANDOUT PERFORMANCE AT HAWAI'I
Senior QB Nick Stevens put on a QB clinic at Hawai'i on Sept. 30, going 18-of-22 for 351 yards and four touchdowns. He also completed his last 12 passes in a row, beginning with his first completion of the second quarter.

Stevens' accolades included:
• Davey O'Brien "Great 8" list
• Manning Award "Stars of the Week"
• Honorable Mention, CFPA National Performer of the Week

RAMS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• K Wyatt Bryan: 11th in FG percentage (.900).
• WR Detrich Clark: 36th in receiving TDs (4).
• WR Michael Gallup: Second in receiving yards (685), 11th in receptions per game (7.7), seventh in receiving yards per game (114.2).
• S Jamal Hicks & CB Kevin Nutt, Jr.: T-32nd in interceptions (2).
• QB Nick Stevens: Sixth in passing yards (1,871), 12th in passing yards per game (311.8), 13th in total offense (324.3), 21st in completions per game (22.7), 28th in passer efficiency rating (150.9).

RECORD WATCH
Several Rams are within reach of positions in the Colorado State record books:

Wyatt Bryan:
   • Two made field goals away from 6th all-time in career field goals made:
   6. Jon Poole - 38 FGs made - 1980-83
   T-7. Wyatt Bryan - 36 - 2015-Present
   T-7. Ben DeLine - 36 - 2008-11
Dalyn Dawkins:
   • 176 yards from 10th all-time in career rushing yards:
   9. Alvin Lewis - 2,522 rushing yards - 1977-80
   10. Chris Nwoke - 2,455 - 2010-13
   -- Dalyn Dawkins - 2,279 - 2015-Present
Michael Gallup:
   • 37 yards away from 9th all-time in career receiving yards:
   8. Paul Turner - 2,060 receiving yards - 1993-97
   9. Todd Tyrrell - 1,994 - 1984-87
   10. Michael Gallup - 1,957 - 2016-Present
   • 18 catches away from 10th all-time in career receptions:
   8. Pete Rebstock - 143 receptions - 1998-01
   9. Kory Sperry - 141 - 2004-08
   10. Dallas Davis - 140 - 1997-01
   -- Michael Gallup - 122 - 2016-Present
   • Currently ninth in career receiving TDs:
   2. Jeff Champine - 21 TDs - 1980-83
   T3. David Anderson - 20 - 2002-05
   T3. Kory Sperry - 20 - 2004-08
   5. Paul Turner - 19 - 1993-97
   6. Willie Miller - 18 - 1972-74
   T7. Mark Bell - 17 - 1975-78
   T7. Greg Primus - 17 - 1989-92
   9. Michael Gallup - 16 - 2016-Present
Izzy Matthews:
   • 1 touchdown away from 10th all-time in career rushing touchdowns.
   T6. Gartrell Johnson - 24 TDs - 2004-08
   T6. Damon Washington - 24 - 1995-98
   T6. Oscar Reed - 24 - 1965-67
   T9. Lawrence McCutcheon - 23 - 1969-71
   T9. E.J. Watson - 23 - 1993-95
   -- Izzy Matthews - 22 - 2015-Present
Nick Stevens:
   • Fifth all-time in passing yards (6,627), 3 away from fifth:
   3. Terry Nugent - 7,103 - 1980-83
   4. Moses Moreno - 6,986 - 1994-97
   5. Nick Stevens - 6,627 - 2014-Present
   • Fifth all-time in completions (491), 4 away from tying for fourth:
   3. Terry Nugent - 569 - 1980-83
   4. Caleb Hanie - 495 - 2004-07
   5. Nick Stevens - 491 - 2014-Present
   • Second all-time in passing TDs, 9 away from tying for first:
   1. Garrett Grayson - 64 - 2011-14
   2. Nick Stevens - 55 - 2014-Present
   • Eighth all-time in pass attempts, 2 away from tying for seventh:
   6. Caleb Hanie - 811 - 2004-07
   7. Bradlee Van Pelt - 792 - 2001-03
   8. Nick Stevens - 790 - 2014-Present

STEVENS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
Nick Stevens' passing efficiency rating (171.3) ranked fifth in FBS in 2016. His 9.63 yards-per-pass-attempt average ranked fourth, his 15.01 passing yards-per-completion mark ranked seventh and his 64.2 completion percentage ranked 17th.

In the first game of 2017, the redshirt senior picked up right where he left off, passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 0 win over Oregon State. The game marked Stevens' eighth consecutive with multiple touchdown passes, and third in a row with three or more touchdowns. His three TDs versus Oregon State gave him 44 for his career and moved him into third all-time at CSU in passing touchdowns, leaping Matt Newton (42 TDs, 1998-2000). His career TD total is now up to 55.

Stevens' multi-TD streak came to an end in game No. 2 against Colorado, but the redshirt senior still passed for 309 yards against a team that ranked fifth in the country in passing-efficiency defense last season. It was his third consecutive game with more than 300 passing yards and the fifth such game of his career.

The Murrieta, Calif., native again eclipsed 300 yards passing in game No. 3 against Abilene Christian, tossing for 337 and three TDs. Stevens has thrown multiple TD passes in nine of his last 10 outings.

In a matchup against No. 1 Alabama, Stevens passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a touchdown on the ground. His 247 yards eclipsed 15 of the last 16 quarterbacks to play in Tuscaloosa, and the Rams' 23 points against the Tide were the most by a non-Power 5 conference school since 2007.

Stevens has been near flawless early in Mountain West play, completing 76.5 percent of his passes (40-of-53) for 644 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions in wins at Hawai'i and at Utah State. Spanning the final three quarters against Hawai'i and the beginning of the Utah State matchup, Stevens completed 21 consecutive passes, the second-longest such streak ever by a Mountain West quarterback.

Through Week 6, Stevens ranks sixth in the nation in passing yards (1,871), 12th in passing yards per game (311.8), 13th in total offense (324.3), 21st in completions per game (22.7) and 28th in passer efficiency rating (150.9). He leads the Mountain West in all aforementioned categories, outside of ranking second in completions per game.

LIKE MIKE
Through Week 6 of the 2017 season, Michael Gallup ranks second in the country with 685 receiving yards and 11th in receptions per game (7.7). He has three 100-yard games already on the year (including a 212-yard performance at Hawaii - his second-highest total of his career), and has at least five catches and 65 yards in every game this season. In a matchup against No. 1 Alabama, Gallup lined up against projected first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick and pulled in five catches for 81 yards, the most by a receiver against Alabama this season.

Gallup now has eight 100-yard games in his career, the fifth-most in program history.

In 2016, wide receiver Gallup ranked ninth in FBS for receiving touchdowns, 13th for receiving yards (first in Mountain West), 15th for receiving yards per game (97.8) and 32nd for receptions per game (5.8). He scored at least one touchdown in each of his final eight games, including three apiece in the final two.

Over the final eight games of his junior season (from Oct. 2 forward), Gallup averaged 128.0 receiving yards per game, the fifth-most in FBS during that span (prior to that point, he ranked 181st).

A JUCO transfer, Gallup filled the hole left by WRs Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley in 2016, recording one of the best receiving seasons in CSU history. Gallup finished his first year with the Rams with 76 catches (3rd in CSU single-season history) for 1,272 yards (3rd) and 14 touchdowns (2nd). Gallup scored at least one touchdown in each of his final eight games, including three apiece in the final two.

BOBO KNOWS TALENT
Of the 73 CSU student-athletes who have appeared in a game this season, 38 are from Coach Bobo's last two signing classes—his first two full classes as Colorado State's head coach. This included 8 of the 22 starters in the season opener versus Oregon State. Those 36 are either from the 2016 and 2017 signing classes or have joined the team as walk-ons since the end of the 2015 season, Bobo's first as CSU's head coach.

START 'EM YOUNG
A year after #RamFam16 took the Mountain West by storm--highlighted by true freshmen Hicks, Jean, Kinsey Jr. and McBride's dominance in Mountain West play--#RAMPAGE17 has already put the country on notice. P Ryan Stonehouse currently ranks second in the country, averaging 48.6 yards per punt. TE Cameron Butler has nine catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and WR Warren Jackson recorded two touchdown receptions at No. 1-ranked Alabama. LB Emmanuel Jones has 15 tackles and 2.0 sacks, while Ellison Hubbard has 11 tackles and 1.0 sack. OL Scott Brooks, CB Darius Campbell, RB Marcus McElroy, LB Patrick Moody, DL Livingston Paogofie, OL Joctavis Phillips, S Jadon Walker and WR Darius Wise are the other true freshmen to play this season.

CSU has now played 13 true freshmen this season.

CSU, UNDER ARMOUR REVEAL #STATEPRIDE UNIFORMS
The Colorado State football program and CSU Athletics' official apparel provider Under Armour unveiled on Sept. 21 a special State Pride uniform that the Rams will wear for their Nov. 11 home game vs. Boise State.

"Our partnership with Under Armour provides for specialty uniforms and the UA design team does a tremendous job driving the creative process," said Joe Parker, Director of Athletics. "The use of our iconic state flag as the base element for this uniform speaks to the pride across Colorado for the University and also our mission as a land grant institution."

The State Pride uniforms are white and incorporate elements of the Colorado state flag, with the helmet and jersey displaying the red and gold "C" and the pants including a patch of the flag at the left hip. The royal blue stripes of the flag run along the center of the helmet from front to back, and down the outside of each pant leg. Jersey numbers are royal with red trim, and the words "Colorado State" appear in royal above the number on the front of the jersey.

Under Armour is in its fifth year as the official apparel and uniform provider for Colorado State's athletics programs. The partnership originated in 2013 and a multi-year renewal began in 2016. In addition to the standard home and away uniforms and the Ag Day orange jerseys for the football team, Under Armour has produced an all-gray uniform that debuted in 2016.

STRIVE FOR FIVE
The Rams will aim to build upon their recent success and qualify for a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season – something that has only been done once before, from 1999-2003. Last year, the Rams won four of their final five games to qualify for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and guarantee a fourth consecutive winning season.

All-time, CSU has played in 16 bowl games, including 15 since 1990, in addition to the 1949 Raisin Bowl. The Rams are looking for their 16th conference title, and first since 2002.

BREAKING IN THE NEW END ZONES
The Rams scored seven touchdowns in their first game at the new on-campus stadium, successfully breaking in both end zones.

CSU's seven touchdowns were scored by six different players:
Rushing (3): Dalyn Dawkins, Marvin Kinsey, Jr., Izzy Matthews
Receiving (3): Cameron Butler, Detrich Clark, Dalyn Dawkins
Defensive (1): Tre Thomas (44-yard INT return)

Matthews scored the first CSU TD in the new stadium - a 1-yard rush into the south end zone to tie the game at 7-7. OSU WR Timmy Hernandez scored the first points in the stadium on a 39-yard TD pass from QB Jake Luton.

A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE

With 16 starters returning from last year's bowl team, CSU will challenge itself in 2017, playing a pair of Pac-12 programs (Oregon State, Colorado) and preseason No. 1 Alabama before opening up conference play on Sept. 30 at Hawai'i.
The 2017 season marks the first time since 2004 that CSU has played three Power-5 teams in non-conference. That year, the Rams faced Colorado, No. 22 Minnesota and No. 1 USC. According to FBSschedules.com, CSU's 2017 non-conference slate is ranked as the second-toughest in all of college football.
CSU's 11 FBS opponents went a combined 84-60 (.583) in 2016, with seven playing in bowl games and three competing in their conference title game (Alabama, Colorado, Wyoming).
CSU has a winning record against five of its eight conference opponents (Hawai`i, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming) and is tied with San José State.
CSU begins conference play with back-to-back road contests for the first time since 1986. On the flip side, CSU will close the regular season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2011.
With the Oregon State date change to a Week 0 contest, CSU played Colorado during Week 1. It marked just the second time in the past six years (2015) that the Rocky Mountain Showdown has not been the season opener. Attendance for the annual rivalry game has increased each of the past five seasons, including the largest crowd since 2003 last fall.
The Rams traveled to Hawai`i for the first time since 2013. After winning 51-21 on Sept. 30, CSU is now is 15-9 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors, winning seven in a row.
CSU won its first game at Utah State since 2011 with a 27-14 victory on Oct. 7.
The Rams and Wolf Pack will play for the first time since the 2015 Arizona Bowl. CSU is 11-3 all-time against Nevada, including a perfect 7-0 in Fort Collins.
The Rams have beaten New Mexico seven consecutive times and hold a 40-25 advantage in the series.
After losing to Air Force seven years in a row from 2006-12, the Rams and Falcons have split the past four meetings, each won by the home team. Air Force leads the all-time series, 33-21-1.
The Rams have played Wyoming more than any other team, holding a 58-45-5 advantage. CSU has won three of the past four meetings, including back-to-back wins in Laramie.
CSU is looking for its first win over Boise State. The Broncos are 6-0 against the Rams, playing each of the past six seasons.
CSU is 4-4 all-time against San José State, winning in the most-recent meeting, in 2014 in San Jose.

A DEEPER LOOK
In addition to the Rams' 2017 slate, CSU has scheduled 20 non-conference dates from 2018-28 – 15 of which are against Power-5 opponents, with six of them being played in Fort Collins.
2018: Sept. 1 vs. Colorado (Denver), Sept. 8 vs. Arkansas, Sept. 15 at Florida, Sept. 22 vs. Illinois State
2019: Aug. 31 vs. Colorado (Denver), Sept. 7 vs. Western Illinois, Sept. 14 at Arkansas, Sept. 21 vs. Toledo
2020: Sept. 5 vs. Colorado, Sept. 12 at Oregon State, Sept. 19 vs. Northern Colorado, Sept. 26 at Vanderbilt
2021: Sept. 11 vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 25 at Toledo
2025: Sept. 6 vs. Texas Tech, Sept. 27 at Vanderbilt
2026: Sept. 12 at Texas Tech, Sept. 26 vs. Vanderbilt
2027: Sept. 4 vs. Arizona
2028: Sept. 2 at Arizona

#RAMPAGE17
Colorado State Football's 2017 signing class was the highest ranked in program history. Among CSU's signing class were several three-star commits, according to various recruiting sites. 247Sports lists 19 of the Rams' 27 signees as three-star prospects, while Scout named 16 - both are the most in school history. ESPN has 15 while Rivals has 12. Overall, there were 10 consensus three-star prospects among the four recruiting sites. WR Tyler Smith was named a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247 Sports and Scout.

The combined 2016 winning percentage of the Rams' 21 high school signees is .770 (197-59). Seven players won conference titles during their senior seasons (Firment, Hubbard, Lebron, Moody, Phillips, Scott and Smith), while four others played in their state championship or semifinals (Firment, Hubbard, Paogofie and Phillips). Hubbard helped Grayson High School to the 2016 Georgia Class 7A state championship and a No. 4 national ranking. Meanwhile, Corte Tapia led the Windsor Wizards to a 2015 Colorado 4A title.

GREEN AND GLOBAL - SERVICE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN JAMAICA

13 student-athletes and four staff members traveled to Petersfield, Jamaica from May 18-28.
The athletes experienced cultural immersion, social action and community-based learning. Students were hosted by local families, with 2-4 students per home.
Participating football players: Deonte Clyburn, Zack Golditch, Houston Haynes, Levi Osborn, Nate Ryken.
CSU's student-athletes have seen their opportunities expand dramatically in recent years. The most visible expansion of the student-athlete experience has come in the way of investments in nutrition, facilities and academic support to further fulfill the department's mission to Educate, Engage and Excel.
The trip was organized by Dr. Albert Bimper, CSU's senior associate athletic director for diversity and inclusion.
Bimper was a 2006 CSU graduate and four-year starting center on the football team (2002-05).

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