Colorado State of Mind | Colorado State Rams

[Chillcavern]

[Agent]

Oh hell yeah defensive player of the week nationally

[Chillcavern]

Oh hell yeah defensive player of the week nationally

Dude was a one man wrecking crew at times. Happy to see him get recognized for it

[Chillcavern]

[The JZA]

Big ups to WIll Pendergrast getting NPOTW. Air Force should be another easy win here to grab.

[djp73]

Pretty even matchup on “paper”

[supahotfire]

Big conference game. Can really start to separate yourself here

[redsox907]

time to ground the Air Force

Although I think its hilarious that the air force - which flies planes in the air - runs a ground based offense

[Chillcavern]

Big ups to WIll Pendergrast getting NPOTW. Air Force should be another easy win here to grab.

You overestimate us tremendously, I promise you

Pretty even matchup on “paper”

Their homefield advantage IRL is no joke (they're at 6,621 feet and have a capacity just under 50k), more than equalizes things

Big conference game. Can really start to separate yourself here

I want to win at least one rivalry game this year

time to ground the Air Force

Although I think its hilarious that the air force - which flies planes in the air - runs a ground based offense

Makes sense with the service reqs and all though, tbqh. Can't imagine serving in the Air Force like 5-6 months after playing at pass protecting OLine weight

[Chillcavern]

Preview of 62nd edition of Colorado State / Air Force

Colorado Springs, CO — For one Saturday every fall, a rare moment of coherence occurs between college football fans in Colorado Springs and in Fort Collins, as the Colorado State Rams and Air Force Falcons take the field to battle for the Ram-Falcon trophy. The two schools have met almost annually since the Air Force Academy started fielding a Division one team in 1955, with the first meeting between the two on November 30, 1957. The schools have met 60 more times in the nearly 67 years since then, and Air Force has pretty much dominated the matchup, winning 39 of those matchups.

The Ram-Falcon trophy was introduced to the Colorado-based rivalry back in 1980 to highlight the competition and sportsmanship in the series between CSU and Air Force, thanks to the efforts of former CSU-based ROTC commander Shelly Godkin and local Fort Collins woodcarving artist Bill Wrage. Godkin, a former Air Force colonel whose final assignment was as Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies of CSU’s AFROTC Detachment 90, had deep ties to both schools and their respective communities.



The Ram-Falcon trophy is a very... Colorado trophy, displaying a wood-carved battle between a Falcon and a Ram


This year, the contest will take place at the Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, a place the Rams haven’t left with a victory since 2002. The current squad feels a hunger to secure the first victory at the FBS’ second-highest elevation stadium for the Green and Gold in 22 years and the first victory for the Rams in the series in 7 years. A victory here would allow Rams Head Coach Jay Norvell to build on what is already the Rams most promising season since 2017 and give the program their first win over a rival since 2020. But the Rams know how quickly a game against the Falcons can get away from them after Air Force turned a 13-13 game at the half into a comfortable 30-13 win in the snow last year in Fort Collins.



Last year’s matchup was the first snow game of the year and had one of the more unique penalties of the year


When it comes to talent, the Rams seem to have a slight edge (with reigning national defensive player of the week Will Prendergast and likely future pro receiver Tory Horton leading the way) - especially as Air Force is in a rebuilding year after their excellent 2023 class (who led the Falcons to an 8-0 start last year) graduated. The Academy, however, can never be discounted under long time head coach Troy Calhoun, who routinely coaches his guys to play well above their weight. Calhoun, now in his 18th season as the head coach of his alma mater, always seems to have the Rams' number, compiling a 14-2 record as a head coach against his in-state rivals after going 4-0 against CSU as a player. Reaching the halfway point of the season at .500 with one of his weaker squads is another testament to his coaching capabilities.



Calhoun, a staple around Colorado Springs since his playing days, has long been a thorn in the Rams' side


Key to the matchup, of course, is how well the Rams can contain the Falcons traditional option offense - a stark difference in offensive style to their previous opponents. This season, the Rams have been lining up primarily in a 4-2-5 base defense - they will need their defensive backs (on top of their front six) to have an exceptionally disciplined day in order to contain Air Force’s backfield. If they can manage to stifle the Academy offense and prevent them from dominating possession as well as execute their offense the way they've been during their current win streak, the Rams will put themselves in position to head back up I-25 as winners and push it to 4 wins in a row. If they let their demons show once again against Air Force, they'll remain winless in rivalry games under Norvell.



In his third year, Jay Norvell is still looking for his first rivalry win as CSU Head Coach

Rivalry Statistics:
Meetings total 61
All-time series: Air Force leads, 39–21–1 (.648)
Trophy series: Air Force leads, 28–15 (.651)
Largest victory: Air Force, 69–0 (1963)
Longest win streak: Air Force, 7 (1983–1989, 2006–2012, 2016–2023)
Current win streak: Air Force, 7 (2016-2023)