BYU hits the road for the first time this season in Week 3 as the Cougars travel to Fort Collins, Colorado, to take on an undefeated Colorado State team in an old-school matchup between former conference rivals.
The Cougars enter at 2-0 after picking up the Big 12’s first conference win of the season, beating Arizona 28-17 in Provo. Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier accounted for four touchdowns in the win, while BYU’s defense continued an impressive start to the season. Colorado State is also 2-0 and coming off a 58-point performance against Southern Utah, with quarterback Hauss Hejny accounting for five touchdowns for the second straight game.
Now BYU gets a different kind of test. The Cougars will be heavy favorites, but they’ll be playing their first road game against a confident Colorado State team that will have an opportunity to make an early statement against a ranked former Mountain West rival. This is the first meeting between the programs since 2010.
BYU vs. Colorado State Odds
- Spread: BYU -17.5
- Over/Under: 52.5
- Moneyline: BYU -950/Colorado State +625
Odds as of Thursday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.
The Biggest Question: Are Jim Mora and the Rams Up to Bat?
Through two games, Colorado State, a program that hadn’t quite broken through under Jay Norvell, appears to have a fresh start with Jim Mora and a new home in the newly reshaped Pac-12. Former Oklahoma State QB Hauss Hejny is already 539 passing yards and 9 touchdowns deep as Colorado State’s starting quarterback, and Mel Brown is proving a capable rusher with two touchdowns on just 17 carries. Wins over Southern Utah and Wyoming have led to a 2-0 start, but BYU represents Mora’s first test against a ranked opponent since 2023, when his UConn Huskies fell 59-3 to then No. 17 Tennessee.
BYU vs. Colorado State Prediction and Pick
Prediction: BYU 30, Colorado State 16
Both sides enter this game with a lot to gain and plenty to lose, with perfect 2-0 records on the line. For Mora, this one comes before a home crowd, too, with an opportunity to knock off a Big 12 power in Fort Collins. I’d swing with BYU and the Bear Bachmeier-led offense on the road, even with CSU’s latest upswing.
BYU wins and covers.
