Football Fever Hits Fort Collins: Washington State Cougars to Tackle Colorado State Rams

As the Washington State Cougars prepare to face off against the Colorado State Rams at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting game of football. The upcoming match, scheduled for September 2nd, will see the Cougars looking to capitalize on their previous season's performance and continue their winning ways.

Last season, the Cougars demonstrated a strong offensive presence with a red zone efficiency of 92 percent and an impressive goal-to-go percentage of 96 percent. Their passing game was particularly effective, completing 65 percent of passes with an average of over seven yards per attempt and a quarterback rating above 137. This aerial assault was complemented by a solid ground game that averaged nearly four yards per carry.

Defensively, Washington State proved formidable as well, recording 33 sacks and securing 12 interceptions throughout the season. Their ability to disrupt plays was further highlighted by an average interception return yardage of over twenty yards.

Special teams also played a pivotal role in last year's success. The team's punters averaged more than forty-one net yards per punt while kick returners maintained an average yardage above twenty-one on returns.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Cougars; they encountered challenges with penalties totaling seventy for the season and fumbles where they lost eight out of nineteen. These are areas where they would aim for improvement going into this new campaign.

The venue itself could play a significant role in this encounter. Playing away from home presents its own set of challenges but also opportunities for teams like Washington State to showcase their resilience and adaptability in unfamiliar environments.

Fans can catch all the action live on CBS Sports Network as both teams take to the field under Fort Collins' lights. With kickoff set for September 2nd at 23:00 UTC (6 PM local time), supporters should expect nothing less than full-throttle football from kickoff until the final whistle.