Longhorns Country

Texas Football Week 1 Opponent Preview: Colorado State

The Texas Longhorns will kick off the 2024 season at home vs. Colorado State on Saturday.

Matt Galatzan

Nov 18, 2023; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams wide receiver Tory Horton (14) celebrates a long pass reception in the third quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2023; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams wide receiver Tory Horton (14) celebrates a long pass reception in the third quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports / Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
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College Football is finally back.

Less than a week from now the Texas Longhorns will take the field for the 2024 football stadium in their season opener at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, hoping to kick off a campaign with College Football Playoff expectations on the right foot.

Waiting for them on the other side of the field will be the Colorado State Rams, who enter the season on a different trajectory.

In 2023, the Rams struggled in a big way, going just 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Moutain West, with wins over Middle Tennessee State (4-8), Utah Tech (2-9) , San Diego State (4-8) and Nevada (2-10).

However, their best win of the season came against an 8-6 Boise State team, marking their only win over a team that finished the year with a winning record.

Fortunately for coach Jay Norvell, he has some talent returning, with starting quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and star receiver Tory Horton both coming back in 2024.

Texas has faced Colorado State just once in program history, hosting the Rams in 1975 and winning, 46-0.

The Longhorns and Rams will take the field in Austin on Saturday, with kickoff set for 2:30 pm CT on ESPN.

Tory Horto
Nov 18, 2023; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams wide receiver Tory Horton (14) tries to make a catch in the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports / Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado State Rams

2023 Record: 5-7, 3-5 Mountain West

Head coach: Jay Norvell

Returning Offensive Leaders:

Passing: QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

2023 stats: 292 of 470 for 3,460 yards and 22 touchdowns with 16 interceptions, 132.61 QB rating.

Rushing: RB Justin Marshall

2023 stats: 57 carries for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

Receiving: WR Tory Horton

2023 stats: 96 catches for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns

Returning Defensive Leaders:

Tackles: DB Jack Howell - 50 solo, 64 assisted, 114 total

Interceptions: DB Henry Blackburn - 3

Sacks: LB Chase Wilson - 3.5

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.

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