This is a team that was in the College Football Playoff in 2023 and will be quite disappointed to not make a return in the expanded CFP in 2024.
And Colorado State has to try and create problems for the No. 4 Longhorns in the season opener (1:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Aug. 31).
Here are keys to the game and a prediction:
All in on clean, aggressive attack
Everyone knows a huge underdog (Texas is favored by a whopping 34.5 points) cannot lose a turnover battle if it wants to be competitive. The Rams simply must protect the ball to have hopes of staying in the game.
CSU coach Jay Norvell has said there is a path to victory in every game, but in one like this, a team has to do a bit different. That means some aggressive calls. Maybe going for it on a fourth down you wouldn’t usually or passing on a field goal to try and get a touchdown.
It’s Texas. The Rams are expected to not only lose, but by a lot. Why not go out swinging? Yes, the Rams will likely try and be smart early (as in: see if they can get the run game going) but there should be some aggressive play calls.
Give up singles and doubles, not home runs
Sorry for the baseball analogy in this football story, but it fits.
“When you play the University of Texas, you’re going to see a lot of speed,” Norvell said. “They’re going to have speed. We have to be smart about how we handle that. They have a lot of home run hitters. We can’t give up a lot of at bats.”
