In a night that could have been transformative for Colorado State football, it was anything but.
Head coach Jay Norvell was one step closer to getting his contract renewed after switching paths from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and instead moving on to Jackson Brousseau. Although Brousseau performed well for the Rams — providing short, on-target passes — the offensive unit lacked urgency and identity.
It was another rough night for CSU as it fell 20-3 to Washington State Saturday, adding yet another loss to its nonconference record.
“We obviously didn’t play well enough … and we didn’t coach well enough, starting with me,” Norvell said. “We (have) got to look at the things that happened tonight with this game and look (at) how we can improve. … I think we can still manage to bring this group together and do a lot of positive things this season, but it’s got to start next week.”
The Rams are looking to rebuild in a lot of ways, as they didn’t just take hits through WSU’s defense, but also the loss of two key players.
In the middle of the third quarter, Tanner Morley went down, cutting down CSU’s offensive line. Later on in the fourth quarter, Jacob Ellis attempted to stop a Zevi Eckhaus QB keeper. Yet after being unable to complete a tackle, he landed awkwardly.
Ellis was attended to on the field for several minutes before being assisted into the tunnel.
“I don’t have any information on Tanner or Jacob,” Norvell said. “Tanner, he was not 100% when he started this game … and so I’m hoping he’s going to be OK. And I hope Jacob’s OK; Jacob was pretty sore coming off the field.”
And with these key players out, it seems as if the injuries for the Rams continue to pile up. Captain Mukendi Wa-Kalonji has been a leader on the defensive line, and he was officially ruled out for the season Sept. 24. Meanwhile, spark player Jaxxon Warren hasn’t seen the field since Northern Colorado.
With several leaders injured, it’s allowed a chance for others to step up and shine. Yet no significant players seem to be rising to the occasion.
Rocky Beers scored his first touchdown with CSU against UTSA, but tallied up penalties instead of touchdowns against WSU. At this point in the season, the Rams should be minimizing self-inflicted errors, but instead continue to find themselves in tricky situations that cost them explosive plays and sustainable drives.
CSU ended Saturday with seven penalties totaling 60 yards.
“Football is football,” Jaques Evans said. “At the end of the day, somebody’s going to win, somebody’s going to lose. Obviously, you don’t want to be on the losing side of the bracket. But even if you’re on the losing side, you still have to find a way to win. … The goals are still ahead of us.”
This was the Rams’ first game of the season facing a future Pac-12 opponent, and in a game that should have given CSU confidence for the future, it instead beat it down to dust.
And in the week before starting the conference season against San Diego State, several things will be taken to the drawing board — especially the component of predictability. Norvell continues to bring out wildcard Tahj Bullock, but at this point, he’s not much of a wildcard anymore.
He’s dependent when it comes to running those final short-yardage situations until that’s all he’s brought out for. As soon as No. 12 hits the field, WSU’s defense knew what to prepare for, making Bullock less valuable to the offense, as he ended with -10 yards.
“I don’t think it was effective (tonight), I think it has been effective (before),” Norvell said. “But I mean, they made the play on the first time (Bullock) went into the game. (He) never really got the chance to get established tonight.”
In a game where the offensive line looked shaky, Brousseau displayed impressive pocket presence, whether it was stepping up in the pocket or evading Cougar defenders. No. 7 showed promise in his ability to rush the ball in tricky situations, finishing with 21 rushing yards.
Brousseau offered some of the only hope that the game had to offer, but in the end, it wasn’t much different than what the offense produced with Fowler-Nicolosi.
Right off the bat, in the Rams’ first possession of the night, Isaiah Hankins nailed a 50-yard field goal, putting the first points on the board. But that play that immediately filled fans with hope would soon turn into an empty promise, as it was the only scoring play of the entire game for CSU.
“We’ve got to find ways that they can be more explosive,” Norvell said. “And that’s what we have got to do in the passing game, is find guys that can make explosive plays, so we’ll continue to work with them on that.”
Four games in, CSU is scrambling for redemption. The Rams now sit at 3-1, with one very controversial win coming from UNC.
Even with WSU still searching for its identity, the Cougars still managed to incorporate new starting quarterback Eckhaus fairly well into the mix, ending with 189 passing yards and 30 rushing yards.
Overall, the stat sheet between the two teams isn’t very different.
By the end of the night, Brousseau ended with 188 yards, and the Rams had 12 fewer rushing yards. But despite what the numbers say, there was a fundamental difference in a team that looked put together versus a team that did not.
“We need to have some success, and they’ll have more confidence,” Norvell said. “I believe in the kids in that locker room, and I think we have the basis for a good, solid football team. We just need to get back on track, and we need to win.”
It will be back to the drawing board for the Rams, especially for Norvell as the play-caller on offense. With hope dwindling from fans, it begs the question: Is that hope also dying for Norvell? Will he still have a job with CSU come 2026?
“I’m coaching, and I’m trying to do the best I can with these kids,” Norvell said. “No, I’m not worried (about my future).”
Reach Sophie Webb at sports@collegian.com or on social media @sophgwebb.
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