The Mountain West Conference released the 2018 conference football schedule Thursday afternoon, finalizing the regular season schedule for Colorado State and the other 11 MW schools.
For the second season in a row, CSU will open with a Week 0 game, this time against conference opponent Hawaii. The Rams will host the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, Aug. 25, with the kickoff time yet to be announced. CSU began its 2017 season with a Week 0 victory over Oregon State.
Less than a week later, CSU will travel to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado. It will be the third consecutive showdown taking place on a Friday night, scheduled for Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
The Rams conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule with home matchups against Arkansas and Illinois State and a road showdown with Florida.
CSU’s first of two proper bye weeks in 2018 comes the weekend of Sept. 29 at the conclusion of the non-conference schedule. After the bye week, the Rams will play four games before the second bye week, alternating road and home games against San Jose State, New Mexico, Boise State and Wyoming.
The Boise State game will be a Friday night game nationally televised by ESPN2.
Following the off weekend on Nov. 3, CSU plays at Nevada and home against Utah State. The Rams conclude the regular season with a game at Air Force.
The season breaks down into chunks of action as the Rams play five, four and three games with two regular season bye weeks in between.
Last season, CSU decided to move its games against Oregon State to a Week 0 affair in order to free up a bye week in Week 4. Prior to the adjustment, CSU’s only bye week was the last week of the regular season. On paper, the 2018 scheduling, in terms of regular season rest, is far more favorable in 2018.
CSU football 2018 schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 25 – Hawai’i*
Friday, Aug. 31., 7:30 p.m. – vs. Colorado (Denver) – CBS Sports Network
Saturday, Sept. 8 – Arkansas
Saturday, Sept. 15 – at Florida
Saturday, Sept. 22 – Illinois State
Saturday, Sept. 29 – [Bye]
Saturday, Oct. 6 – at San Jose State*
Saturday, Oct. 13 – New Mexico*
Friday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. – at Boise State* – ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 27 – Wyoming*
Saturday, Nov. 3 – [Bye]
Saturday, Nov. 10 – at Nevada*
Saturday, Nov. 17 – Utah State*
Saturday, Nov. 24 – at Air Force*
Saturday, Dec. 1 – MW Championship Game
*Mountain West conference game
Preparations for the 2018 season gets underway March 19 as CSU begins its spring practices. The spring portion of the schedule will conclude on April 21 with the annual Green and Gold game, the first in CSU’s on-campus stadium.
Collegian sports director Colin Barnard can be reached at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @ColinBarnard_.
