San Jose State (4-1) and Colorado State (2-3)

When/where: 1:30 p.m. Saturday/Canvas Stadium

TV/radio: truTV/Rams Radio Network

BetMGM line: CSU -1.5, O/U 56.5

Weather: 83 degrees and partly cloudy

Three storylines

CSU graduation ability: The Rams were on the verge of an upset at Oregon State last week, but just couldn’t close the door. CSU rallied from a 21-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter to take a three-point lead with 1:56 to play. But the defense failed to stop the win, instead allowing a long drive and a field goal to force overtime. After the double OT loss, the Rams fell to 1-7 in overtime games since 2000. To beat SJSU, the Rams will have to find an x-factor in the waning minutes. It would also help if they could avoid all the penalties (13 for 82 yards) that contributed to their downfall in Corvallis.

SJSU stripes: The Spartans are 10-2 in their last 12 games overall and have won eight straight conference games dating back to 2023. Their only loss this season came in a double-OT shootout against Washington State on September 20th. Even after the last loss, when head coach of the year Brent Brennan left for Arizona, the program continued its momentum under former longtime Navy head Ken Niumatalolo into this fall. CSU won four of its last five games against SJSU, but the Spartans won their last meeting 28-16 in San Jose in 2022.

Wideout show: While Rams star Tory Horton returned from a groin injury against OSU last week and made his presence felt (nine receptions, 158 yards and a TD), SJSU also boasts a dynamic wideout in Nick Nash. The converted QB leads all FBS players with 55 catches, 11.0 receptions per game and nine receiving TDs while rushing for 712 yards. The last time the Spartans played in Fort Collins in 2021, Nash started at QB. Whichever secondary can contain the other’s biggest aerial threat will have a major advantage.

Predictions

Kyle Newman, sports journalist: CSU 28, SJSU 27

The Rams break through with their first win of the season against a top-notch Spartans team. The visitors led by 10 points at halftime, but an interception from Jack Howell and another 100-yard game from Tory Horton – along with two rushing touchdowns from Avery Morrow – helped CSU win. And the CSU defense, which has consistently failed to come up with a big stop the last two seasons, forced another turnover on SJSU’s final drive in the final minutes of the game.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: San Jose State 35, CSU 30

This is the third top-10 FBS passing offense the Rams have faced this season. The other two? Texas and CU. These matchups got ugly. That shouldn’t be the case. CSU should be able to pass the ball at will to whichever opponent it faces the rest of the way. But can the Rams play well enough to keep Nick Nash and Emmett Brown on the sidelines for hours? And can CSU fans cope with a one-possession heartbreaker? Because this feels like something different.