Mountain West releases 2018 conference football schedule
3/1/2018 12:35:00 PM | Football
Rams to open 2018 season at home against Hawai’i on Aug. 25
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West released its complete 2018 football schedule on Thursday, including dates for Colorado State's eight league games.
The Rams will begin their season in August for the second year in a row, opening against Hawai'i at home on Aug. 25 in a "Week 0" matchup. CSU has opened its season in August in consecutive years twice before – 2002-03 and a three-year stretch from 1996-98.
It's the second-earliest start date in CSU football history, with the only earlier game being Aug. 22, 2002 at No. 22 Virginia, which resulted in a 35-29 win for the Rams.
Also announced is the move of the Rocky Mountain Showdown meeting against Colorado to Friday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network. The Rams will play two games in August for the second time in program history (2002).
CSU will play three more non-conference games before resuming MW action, hosting Arkansas and Illinois State and visiting Florida. The matchups against the Razorbacks and Gators will give the Rams two SEC opponents in the same season for the second time in program history (1981 – Mississippi State and Tennessee).
The Rams will play four MW opponents at home – Hawai'i (Aug. 25), New Mexico (Oct. 13), Wyoming (Oct. 27) and Utah State (Nov. 17) and four on the road – San Jose State (Oct. 6), Boise State (Oct. 19, ESPN2), Nevada (Nov. 10) and Air Force (Nov. 24). All eight league games will be played on Saturdays except the meeting at Boise State, which was selected to be televised by ESPN2 on a Friday night.
The 2018 campaign will mark the second year that fans will be able to enjoy CSU's on-campus football experience. In their inaugural year in the stadium, the Rams set single-season records for total home attendance (192,369) and per game average (32,062).
A look at CSU's 2018 football schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 25 – Hawai'i
CSU is 15-9 all-time against Hawai'i, including a 51-21 victory on the island last season. This date will mark the earliest the Rams have ever started conference play, and the second time they've played a league foe in August (Nevada, Aug. 31, 1997).
Friday, Aug. 31., 7:30 p.m. – vs. Colorado (Denver) – CBS Sports Network
For the second season in a row and third time in the last four years, the Rocky Mountain Showdown will not be the Rams' season-opening contest. Attendance for the annual rivalry game has increased each of the past five seasons, including the largest crowd since 2003 last fall.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – Arkansas
CSU is 0-3 all-time against Arkansas, with the most recent meeting coming in 1990 in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have never played the Rams in Fort Collins. CSU has hosted an SEC team only once before – a 1981 showdown against No. 19 Mississippi State.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – at Florida
This will be the first meeting between CSU and Florida. The Gators will be playing in their first season under head coach Dan Mullen.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – Illinois State
This will be the first meeting between CSU and Illinois State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds have had success against FBS foes, including a 9-7 win over Big Ten foe Northwestern in 2016.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – [Bye]
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at San Jose State
CSU is 5-4 all-time against San José State, with the Rams winning 42-14 over the Spartans to close the 2017 regular season.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – New Mexico
The Rams have beaten New Mexico eight consecutive times and hold a 41-25 advantage in the series. CSU held off a late Lobos rally to win 27-24 in Albuquerque last year.
Friday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. – at Boise State – ESPN2
CSU is seeking its first win against Boise State in its eighth matchup all-time against the Broncos.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – Wyoming
The Rams have played Wyoming more than any other team, holding a 57-46-5 advantage in the series.
Saturday, Nov. 3 – [Bye]
Saturday, Nov. 10 – at Nevada
CSU is 11-3 all-time against Nevada, including a 44-42 win in Fort Collins last season.
Saturday, Nov. 17 – Utah State
The Rams defeated Utah State 27-14 last season in Logan to improve to 39-33-2 all-time in the series.
Saturday, Nov. 24 – at Air Force
Air Force has won the last two meetings between the programs and holds a 34-21-1 lead in the all-time series.
Saturday, Dec. 1 – MW Championship Game
Several standouts return from an offense that ranked 11th in the FBS, including running back Izzy Mat-thews, who is tied for fifth in program history in career rush TDs (26). Wide receiver Olabisi John-son finished last year with 41 catches for 595 yards, including a team-high six receptions for 119 yards in the New Mexico Bowl against Marshall. It was his second consecutive strong bowl game, following his school-record 265 receiving yards in the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Sophomore Collin Hill returns at quarterback after redshirting in 2017. He started four games as a true freshman in 2016 and performed well before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Hill completed 58 percent of his pass-es (75-129) for 1,096 yards and eight touchdowns, with just two interceptions, prior to his injury.
The defense will be spearheaded by the return of the team's two top tacklers from 2017, linebacker Josh Watson and safety Jordan Fogal. Watson led the team with 109 tackles and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection. Fogal, who was playing in his first season at CSU after transferring from Utah, ranked second on the team with 71 tackles. Other significant contributors returning to the Rams defense include linebacker Max McDonald (fourth in tackles), cornerback Anthony Hawkins (team-leading three interceptions) and linebacker Emmanuel Jones (returning leader in tackles for loss).
The returning defensive talent will be led by new coordinator John Jancek, who brings 10 years of expe-rience as a defensive coordinator at the FBS level, most recently a three-year stint at Tennessee. Four other new assistant coaches join Jancek on that side of the ball, including special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Chase Gibson. Dave Johnson was also added to the staff to be the offensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach. The six new full-time assistant coaches boast more than 100 years of combined experience on Division I coaching staffs.
Season tickets for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans may renew their season tickets or establish new accounts by calling the Rams Sales Team at 800-491-RAMS or visiting CSURams.com/tickets. Today is the renewal deadline to maintain one's season locations from 2017.
CSU's spring practice schedule was recently revealed. The 15-practice slate begins March 19 and will close with the annual Green & Gold Spring Game on April 21 at 12 p.m. MT at Sonny Lubick Field at CSU Stadium.
The Rams will begin their season in August for the second year in a row, opening against Hawai'i at home on Aug. 25 in a "Week 0" matchup. CSU has opened its season in August in consecutive years twice before – 2002-03 and a three-year stretch from 1996-98.
It's the second-earliest start date in CSU football history, with the only earlier game being Aug. 22, 2002 at No. 22 Virginia, which resulted in a 35-29 win for the Rams.
Also announced is the move of the Rocky Mountain Showdown meeting against Colorado to Friday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network. The Rams will play two games in August for the second time in program history (2002).
CSU will play three more non-conference games before resuming MW action, hosting Arkansas and Illinois State and visiting Florida. The matchups against the Razorbacks and Gators will give the Rams two SEC opponents in the same season for the second time in program history (1981 – Mississippi State and Tennessee).
The Rams will play four MW opponents at home – Hawai'i (Aug. 25), New Mexico (Oct. 13), Wyoming (Oct. 27) and Utah State (Nov. 17) and four on the road – San Jose State (Oct. 6), Boise State (Oct. 19, ESPN2), Nevada (Nov. 10) and Air Force (Nov. 24). All eight league games will be played on Saturdays except the meeting at Boise State, which was selected to be televised by ESPN2 on a Friday night.
The 2018 campaign will mark the second year that fans will be able to enjoy CSU's on-campus football experience. In their inaugural year in the stadium, the Rams set single-season records for total home attendance (192,369) and per game average (32,062).
A look at CSU's 2018 football schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 25 – Hawai'i
CSU is 15-9 all-time against Hawai'i, including a 51-21 victory on the island last season. This date will mark the earliest the Rams have ever started conference play, and the second time they've played a league foe in August (Nevada, Aug. 31, 1997).
Friday, Aug. 31., 7:30 p.m. – vs. Colorado (Denver) – CBS Sports Network
For the second season in a row and third time in the last four years, the Rocky Mountain Showdown will not be the Rams' season-opening contest. Attendance for the annual rivalry game has increased each of the past five seasons, including the largest crowd since 2003 last fall.
Saturday, Sept. 8 – Arkansas
CSU is 0-3 all-time against Arkansas, with the most recent meeting coming in 1990 in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have never played the Rams in Fort Collins. CSU has hosted an SEC team only once before – a 1981 showdown against No. 19 Mississippi State.
Saturday, Sept. 15 – at Florida
This will be the first meeting between CSU and Florida. The Gators will be playing in their first season under head coach Dan Mullen.
Saturday, Sept. 22 – Illinois State
This will be the first meeting between CSU and Illinois State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds have had success against FBS foes, including a 9-7 win over Big Ten foe Northwestern in 2016.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – [Bye]
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at San Jose State
CSU is 5-4 all-time against San José State, with the Rams winning 42-14 over the Spartans to close the 2017 regular season.
Saturday, Oct. 13 – New Mexico
The Rams have beaten New Mexico eight consecutive times and hold a 41-25 advantage in the series. CSU held off a late Lobos rally to win 27-24 in Albuquerque last year.
Friday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. – at Boise State – ESPN2
CSU is seeking its first win against Boise State in its eighth matchup all-time against the Broncos.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – Wyoming
The Rams have played Wyoming more than any other team, holding a 57-46-5 advantage in the series.
Saturday, Nov. 3 – [Bye]
Saturday, Nov. 10 – at Nevada
CSU is 11-3 all-time against Nevada, including a 44-42 win in Fort Collins last season.
Saturday, Nov. 17 – Utah State
The Rams defeated Utah State 27-14 last season in Logan to improve to 39-33-2 all-time in the series.
Saturday, Nov. 24 – at Air Force
Air Force has won the last two meetings between the programs and holds a 34-21-1 lead in the all-time series.
Saturday, Dec. 1 – MW Championship Game
Several standouts return from an offense that ranked 11th in the FBS, including running back Izzy Mat-thews, who is tied for fifth in program history in career rush TDs (26). Wide receiver Olabisi John-son finished last year with 41 catches for 595 yards, including a team-high six receptions for 119 yards in the New Mexico Bowl against Marshall. It was his second consecutive strong bowl game, following his school-record 265 receiving yards in the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Sophomore Collin Hill returns at quarterback after redshirting in 2017. He started four games as a true freshman in 2016 and performed well before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Hill completed 58 percent of his pass-es (75-129) for 1,096 yards and eight touchdowns, with just two interceptions, prior to his injury.
The defense will be spearheaded by the return of the team's two top tacklers from 2017, linebacker Josh Watson and safety Jordan Fogal. Watson led the team with 109 tackles and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection. Fogal, who was playing in his first season at CSU after transferring from Utah, ranked second on the team with 71 tackles. Other significant contributors returning to the Rams defense include linebacker Max McDonald (fourth in tackles), cornerback Anthony Hawkins (team-leading three interceptions) and linebacker Emmanuel Jones (returning leader in tackles for loss).
The returning defensive talent will be led by new coordinator John Jancek, who brings 10 years of expe-rience as a defensive coordinator at the FBS level, most recently a three-year stint at Tennessee. Four other new assistant coaches join Jancek on that side of the ball, including special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Chase Gibson. Dave Johnson was also added to the staff to be the offensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach. The six new full-time assistant coaches boast more than 100 years of combined experience on Division I coaching staffs.
Season tickets for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans may renew their season tickets or establish new accounts by calling the Rams Sales Team at 800-491-RAMS or visiting CSURams.com/tickets. Today is the renewal deadline to maintain one's season locations from 2017.
CSU's spring practice schedule was recently revealed. The 15-practice slate begins March 19 and will close with the annual Green & Gold Spring Game on April 21 at 12 p.m. MT at Sonny Lubick Field at CSU Stadium.