If you’re looking at the colorado state football schedule 2025 right now, you’re probably looking at a ghost of what once was. It was supposed to be a year of transition. A "one last ride" before the Rams officially pack their bags for the Pac-12 in 2026. But honestly? It turned into one of the most brutal stretches in Fort Collins history. It wasn’t just about the wins and losses—it was the weirdness of the timing.
The Rams started out in Seattle. On August 30th, they walked into Husky Stadium to face a Washington team that just doesn't lose at home often. The 38-21 scoreline actually felt closer than the game was. It was a 9:00 PM kickoff, which is basically midnight for anyone with a normal sleep schedule, but that’s the life of a Mountain West team trying to stay relevant on a national stage.
The home stand that promised everything (and gave back very little)
After that reality check in Seattle, the Rams came back to Canvas Stadium for what should have been a "get right" month. September 6th brought Northern Colorado to town for Ag Day. It was supposed to be a blowout. It wasn't. CSU escaped with a 21-17 win that felt more like a warning sign than a victory.
Then came the bye. You'd think two weeks of prep for UTSA on September 20th would result in a dominant performance. Instead, it was a heartbreaker. 17-16. One point. That’s the kind of loss that keeps coaches up until 4:00 AM staring at game film.
The following week, September 27th, was essentially a "welcome to your future" game against Washington State. Since these two are basically the new pillars of the rebuilt Pac-12, the vibe in Fort Collins was electric for "State Pride" night. But the Cougars didn't care about the hospitality. They handed CSU a 20-3 loss that made the offense look completely stagnant.
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Why the October schedule felt like a rollercoaster
If you want to understand the colorado state football schedule 2025, you have to look at the Friday night lights. The Mountain West loves their midweek and Friday games for TV revenue, and CSU got bit by that bug twice in October.
On October 3rd, they flew to San Diego. Snapdragon Stadium is beautiful, but the game was ugly. 45-24 Aztecs. Then, just seven days later on October 10th, they had to turn around and play Fresno State at home on another Friday. Ironically, this was the highlight of the year. A 49-21 thrashing of the Bulldogs that made everyone think, "Okay, maybe we can actually play ball."
But that hope was short-lived.
- October 18th: Homecoming. Hawaii comes in. Hawaii usually struggles on the road, but they left Fort Collins with a 31-19 win.
- October 25th: The Border War. Laramie, Wyoming. 7,220 feet of elevation and a 28-0 shutout loss to the Cowboys.
- The Bronze Boot stayed in Wyoming. Again.
The November collapse and the Jim Mora era
By the time November hit, the wheels weren't just wobbly—they were falling off. This was also the month where the program felt the most upheaval. If you follow CSU sports, you know the name Jim Mora popped up late in the year as the new leadership began to take shape for the Pac-12 transition.
The November schedule was a gauntlet of Mountain West heavyweights. UNLV came to town on November 8th and basically treated Canvas Stadium like their own personal track meet, winning 42-10. Then a road trip to Albuquerque on November 15th ended in a three-point loss to New Mexico.
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The final two games were essentially the "Welcome to the Top Tier" tour:
- November 22 at Boise State: A 49-21 loss on the blue turf. Boise was already looking toward the Mountain West Championship (which they eventually won), and they played like it.
- November 28 vs. Air Force: The Ram-Falcon Trophy game. On a Friday afternoon, Air Force ran their triple-option until the Rams' defense was gasping for air. 42-21 Falcons.
What we learned about the 2025 Rams
Basically, the 2025 season was a reality check. You can't just move to a "Power" conference because you have a nice stadium and a big brand. You have to win games. Finishing 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the conference is a tough pill to swallow when you're telling recruits that you're the "next big thing" in the Pac-12.
There were bright spots, sure. The Fresno State win showed what the roster is capable of when the play-calling isn't conservative. But the lack of consistency was staggering. Going from a 49-point explosion one week to being shut out by Wyoming two weeks later is enough to give any fan whiplash.
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Next steps for Rams fans and observers
If you're still tracking the colorado state football schedule 2025 results to see what's next, focus on the transition period happening right now. The move to the Pac-12 isn't just a logo change on the jersey; it requires a massive uptick in NIL funding and a total overhaul of the defensive recruiting strategy to compete with the likes of Washington State and Oregon State every single week.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal window. With a new coaching staff and a higher-profile conference on the horizon, the roster you saw in 2025 will likely look 50% different by the time the 2026 kickoff rolls around. The 2025 season was the end of an era—an painful one—but it cleared the deck for what comes next.