SAN MARCOS, Texas — It’s the hope that kills you.
The Colorado State football team went through a dramatic coaching change on the defensive side of the ball last time out.
And on the first drive of the first game after the change, the Rams forced a dynamic Texas State offense into a three-and-out.
A big improvement! Fans, surely, had reason to believe, right?
Alas, that was the peak. Texas State then scored touchdowns on the next six drives and walloped CSU 66-27 on Oct. 15 at UFCU Stadium.
Here are takeaways from the game.
CSU’s defense was as bad or worse than ever
The last game for the Rams saw Jim Mora take play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Tyson Summers early on and ultimately Summers was dismissed after the game.
Kenny McClendon then moved into the spot as CSU’s defensive play-caller.
How did the unit look? It was embarrassing. Texas State did everything it wanted.
The Bobcats ran through wide open holes for both running back Torrence Burgess Jr. and quarterback Brad Jackson.
Jackson connected on passes whenever he wanted.
Texas State had 473 yards of offense at halftime.
The best example of how bad CSU’s defense was came in the second half when Antarron Turner raced through unblocked for a should-be sack. He leapt, then put hands on Jackson but allowed him to escape what should have been a sack.
Jackson then escaped, evaded other defenders and raced for a 63-yard gain.
CSU’s tackling was once again awful.
The Rams allowed the most rushing yards in a game in program history at more than 500. Texas State went for over 700 yards of offense, setting a program record for yards in a single game.
Texas State went 10 drives in a row from early first quarter to mid-fourth scoring on each drive. Nine of them were touchdowns and the field goal only came at the end of the first half when the Bobcats ran out of time and elected to kick from CSU’s 5 yard line.
The points allowed by CSU the last four weeks:
- 41 (to BYU)
- 59 (to UTSA)
- 56 (to Oregon State)
- 66 (to Texas State)
CSU's offense starts slow
The raw numbers for CSU’s offense ended up fine and quite clearly the offense isn’t the main problem.
But a slow start did not help.
Texas State entered the game with the worst pass defense in the country but CSU seemed insistent on forcing the run or short sideline passes early on.
The Rams had just one total first down on their first five drives.
CSU snapped out of it and then had a stretch of four drives in a row with touchdowns.
Quarterback Hauss Hejny is closer to a return but was again sidelined as K’saan Farrar started his third game in a row.
Leading receiver RJ Vick was also out and the offensive line is limited by key injuries.
The offense is doing OK, all things told. A return of Hejny and others would provide a spark and with how close he was there’s hope he can play when the Rams return to action Oct. 24 at home against San Diego State.
What now for Jim Mora, CSU?
This was an embarrassing night for CSU.
It was the second Pac-12 game for the Rams against the unknown of the league in Texas State.
CSU’s investment in football certainly outdoes Texas State’s and the Rams hired Mora to be competitive in this new-look league.
But two games in and the Rams have been trounced in each.
The firing of Summers produced no immediate change for the defense and CSU is looking at another lost season if things don’t change fast.
The first trip to San Marcos for CSU was a nightmare.
Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State football embarrassed at Texas State | Takeaways