Game Notes: Colorado State set for opener versus Hawai'i

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Colorado State (0-0, 0-0 MW) vs. Hawai'i (0-0, 0-0 MW)
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 | 5:30 p.m. MT
Canvas Stadium (36,500 / 41,000 SRO) | Fort Collins, Colo.

TV: CBS Sports Network
National Radio: Westwood One
Local Radio, Flagship: KARS 102.9 FM (Radio/TV Info)

QUICK NOTES

CSU and Hawai'i will face off in Fort Collins for the first time since 2014. The Rams won that contest 49-20.
This game will mark the earliest that CSU has ever played a conference game, and just the second time that the Rams have played a league game in August (Nevada, Aug. 31, 1997).
CSU begins its season in August for the second year in a row. The Rams hosted Oregon State on Aug. 26 of last year in the first FBS college football game of the season. CSU will play two games in August for just the second time ever. The Rams also played two games in August in 2002, when they went on the road to beat No. 22 Virginia on Aug. 22 and then followed with a win over No. 7 Colorado on Aug. 31.
That Aug. 22 matchup at Virginia is the earliest in a year that CSU has ever played. This matchup versus Hawai'i will be the second-earliest and is the earliest home game for the Rams.
The Rams are 8-2 all-time in August. CSU won its first six August contests, beginning with a 32-24 victory over Arkansas State on Aug. 31, 1991.
Some of CSU's most memorable wins have occurred in August. CSU defeated a Nick Saban-led No. 23 Michigan State squad (ranked No. 23 at the time) on the road, 23-16, on Aug. 29, 1998. The Rams' two wins over ranked Virginia and Colorado squads to kick off the 2002 season were the program's last two wins over ranked teams. CSU played its first on-campus football game in nearly 50 years on Aug. 26, 2017, opening Canvas Stadium with a 58-27 win over Oregon State.
Head coach Mike Bobo is entering his fourth season at the helm of the CSU football program. He owns a 21-18 overall record and a 15-9 mark in Mountain West play.
Defensively, CSU returns three of its top four tacklers (linebacker Josh Watson, safety Jordan Fogal and linebacker Max McDonald), as well as its interception leader in cornerback Anthony Hawkins.
On the offensive side, running back Izzy Matthews returns with a hefty amount of experience and the fifth-most (26) career rushing TDs in program history. Senior wide receiver Olabisi Johnson, nicknamed by head coach Mike Bobo as "The Standard," also returns and owns CSU's single-game receiving yards record (265 vs. Idaho in the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl).

CSU-HAWAI'I - MATCHUP NOTES

The two programs have met 25 times, with CSU holding a 15-9 series edge.
The Rams are 9-2 against the Warriors in Fort Collins. CSU has won the last six meetings in Fort Collins. Hawai'i's last win at CSU was a 31-23 triumph on Sept. 10, 1988.
Overall, the Rams have won the last seven contests in the series, dating back to 1995 when the two teams were members of the WAC. Dating back to 1989, CSU has won 10 of the last 11 matchups.
CSU defeated Hawai'i on the island last year, 51-21.
The first game between the schools was on Dec. 12, 1925 - a 41-0 win for Hawai'i in Honolulu.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

The Warriors went 3-9 last year in their second season under the leadership of head coach Nick Rolovich.
Hawai'i defeated UMass, Western Carolina and picked up one league win against San Jose State.
Rolovich is 10-16 in his two years at Hawai'i, where he was a quarterback from 2000-01.
Rolovich led the Warriors to a Hawai'i Bowl appearance in his first season in 2016. They defeated Middle Tennessee, 52-35.
That bowl appearance was the team's first since 2010 (also Hawai'i Bowl).
Standout wide receiver John Ursua returns for the Warriors. He was the squad's leading receiver last year (47 rec., 667 yds, 5 TDs) despite only playing in six games (knee injury). Through the first six weeks of the season, Ursua led the nation with 130.6 receiving yards per game.
Leading tackler Jahlani Tavai returns. Tavai had 124 tackles, including 5.5 sacks.

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