Venue, Date & Time
Location: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, Colorado (Capacity: 36,500)
Kickoff: 5:00 PM MT / 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Weather Forecast (Fort Collins, CO)
Conditions: Clear skies, cool mountain evening
Temperature: ~70°F (21°C) at kickoff, dropping into the low 60s by the 4th quarter
Wind: 7–10 mph, swirling at times
Impact: Passing game could be slightly affected by crosswinds; otherwise ideal football weather
Injury Report
Washington State Cougars
QB John Mateer – Probable (ankle)
WR Josh Meredith – Questionable (hamstring)
LB Kyle Thornton – Out (knee, season-ending)
Colorado State Rams
QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi – Probable (shoulder)
RB Avery Morrow – Questionable (ankle)
DB Jack Howell – Out (upper body)
Key Player Matchups
QB John Mateer (WSU, 1,045 yds, 9 TD, 3 INT) vs. QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (CSU, 1,112 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT)
Mateer is efficient and mobile; Fowler-Nicolosi is a gunslinger who can light up defenses but is turnover-prone.
WR Josh Meredith (WSU, 312 yds, 3 TD) vs. WR Tory Horton (CSU, 428 yds, 4 TD)
Meredith is Mateer’s top target; Horton is one of the Mountain West’s most dangerous receivers.
RB Dylan Paine (WSU, 198 yds, 2 TD) vs. RB Kobe Johnson (CSU, 176 yds, 1 TD)
Both backs provide balance to pass-heavy offenses.
LB Ahmad McCullough (WSU, 28 tackles, 2 sacks) vs. LB Chase Wilson (CSU, 34 tackles, 1 INT)
Defensive leaders who will be tasked with containing dual-threat QBs.
Recent Team Forms
Washington State Cougars (2-2, Pac-12/AAC transition)
W 34–17 vs. Idaho
L 38–24 @ Texas Tech
L 41–28 vs. Kansas State
W 31–14 vs. Portland State
Trend: Offense averaging 29.2 PPG; defense allowing 27.5 PPG.
Colorado State Rams (2-2, Mountain West)
L 35–21 @ Colorado
W 27–24 vs. Northern Colorado
W 31–20 vs. Utah Tech
L 42–28 @ Boise State
Trend: Offense averaging 26.5 PPG; defense allowing 30.2 PPG.
Conference Context
Washington State: Now competing as a Pac-12/AAC hybrid, looking to prove itself against a Mountain West opponent.
Colorado State: Mountain West program, aiming for a statement win over a Power 5-caliber opponent.
Series History
All-time H2H: Washington State leads 2–0
Last Meeting: 2011 – WSU 31, CSU 20 in Seattle
Trend: Programs rarely meet; this is the first matchup in over a decade.
Betting Trends
Washington State:
2–2 ATS in 2025
3–1 O/U this season
5–2 ATS in last 7 road games
Colorado State:
1–3 ATS in 2025
2–2 O/U this season
2–6 SU in last 8 vs. Power 5 opponents
Historical Betting Results
2011: WSU -7 covered, won 31–20 (Over 50.5)
2001: WSU -10 covered, won 33–21 (Over 52.5)
Game Odds
Washington St. Cougars 49.5
Colorado St. Rams – 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
