WEEK 6 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday October 5, 2024
Colorado State Rams vs Oregon State Beavers
THE SERIES:
Oregon State and Colorado State are meeting for just the fourth time, and first since 2017 in Fort Collins. The Beavers, meanwhile, are hosting the Rams for the first time since 1975. CSU holds a 2-1 advantage after the 58- 27 win to open 2017. OSU won the first-ever meeting, 25-14, in Corvallis in 1962. Colorado State then won the 1975 game in Corvallis, 17-8.
Colorado State Notes
NOTING THE RAMS
• The Rams are in year three under head coach Jay Norvell who was named the program’s 24th head coach on Dec. 6, 2021. Norvell led his former program, Nevada, onto Sonny Lubick Field in the 2021 finale on Nov. 27 and returned to Fort Collins nine days later as the Rams’ new head coach. • Colorado State is seeking its first bowl game since 2017, and first under Norvell. Over his five years in Reno (2017-21), Norvell compiled four-straight seven-plus win seasons and led the Wolf Pack to four bowl games. • Colorado State set a Canvas Stadium – and program – record with 40,099 fans in attendance for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 14. It also marked back-to-back sellouts after Ram Nation turned out for the home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 7. • Colorado State’s offensive line is full of experience, including the Mountain West’s most seasoned player in center Jacob Gardner (49 starts in 49 career games). Garnder and the Rams’ front unit allowed just 14 sacks last season – tied for 11th in the nation – and have allowed just five through four games in 2024 (tied for 31st). • The Rams will play seven games at home for the first time in program history in 2024, highlighted by a pair of rivalry matchups in the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado (Sept. 14) and The Border War against Wyoming (Nov. 15). The last time both rivals were in Fort Collins the same season was in 1996. • Colorado State is committed to improving on both sides of the rushing game in 2024. Norvell identified 4.0 yards per carry as a number to target, wanting his offense to exceed that number and his defense to hold opponents below it. So far so good as the Rams are currently averaging 4.8 yards per carry and are holding opponents to just 3.8 yards per attempt.
NOTING THE GAME
• This is the third meeting all-time between Colorado State and Oregon State, a series in which the Rams lead 2-0. The two teams are in line to play more frequently with CSU announcing its intentions to join OSU in the Pac-12 Conference in 2026. • A Rams victory on Saturday would give them a winning record through the first five games of the season. The last time CSU achieved that feat was in 2017, which was the also last season in which the Rams earned bowl eligibility. • This is the first road game for Colorado State in over a month. The Rams opened the season against No. 4 Texas in Austin on Aug. 31 before returning home to play three-consecutive games at Canvas Stadium. • Colorado State has been relatively successful in stopping the run this season (113.5 yards per game), but will have their hands full trying to stop the Beavers’ seventh-ranked rushing attack that grinds opponents for 267.8 rushing yards per contest.
Oregon State Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State returns from its bye week to host Colorado State Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. PT. • The game will air live on The CW. Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Nigel Burton (sideline) will call the action. • The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, turn to page two of these notes. • Every game this season can be heard live on the Varsity Network, a free application available via computer browsers, smartphones and tablets. After downloading the application, search for Oregon State. • The matchup marks just the fourth all-time between the teams and first in Corvallis since 1975.
By The Numbers
0 – Fourth-down conversions by OSU’s opponents this season, in four attempts. OSU is one of four teams without an opponent converting on fourth.
11 – Rushing touchdowns combined for Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson.
35 – Rushes of 10-plus yards, ranking the Beavers ninth nationally.
37:56 – OSU’s average time of possession after holding the ball for 40:15 against Purdue. OSU had held the ball for 151:43 this season, compared to 88:17 by opponents.
48 – Career starts by offensive lineman Joshua Gray, just two shy of Roy Schuening’s program-record of 50 from 2004-07.
51 – Third-down conversion percentage compared to 36 percent by opponents.
66 – First downs by rush, accounting for 69 percent of the Beavers’ 96 this year.
267.75 – Beavers’ yards per game on the ground this season, which would rank as the program’s highest dating back to 1996.
2006 – The Beavers are playing their fourth home game in a five-game stretch to open the season for the first time since 2006.
At Home
• Oregon State is 18-3 at home since 2021 and the stats indicate a good reason why. • The Beavers have scored 30 or more points 13 times over that stretch and have a perfect 13-0 mark when that happens. Conversely, opponents have scored 20 or less 13 times, and the Beavers are 12-1 when that happens. The lone loss was a 17-14 defeat to USC in 2022. • OSU has surpassed 400 yards of offense in 12 of those 21 games, going 12-0. Opponents, meanwhile, have been held to under 400 yards 16 times, and OSU is 14-2. Ironically, the Beavers are 4-1 when opponents have topped 400 yards. • The Beavers have surpassed 500 yards three times; in 2021 vs. Hawai’i, picking up 558, 2023 against Stanford, finishing with 598, and in the 2024 opener versus Idaho State, tallying 510.
Beavers At Home
• Oregon State plays seven home games in 2024, the most at Reser Stadium since 2016 when the Beavers went 4-3. • The Beavers play four of their first five games at home for the first time since 2006. The 2006 squad went 3-2 over that stretch. • UNLV visits Reser Stadium Oct. 19 and the Rebels will be in Corvallis for the first time since 2002. OSU won that game 47-17. • San Jose State, meanwhile, makes its first trip to Corvallis since 2015 when the Beavers were 35-21 winners.
