Colorado Buffaloes vs. Texas State Bobcats: Week Two Preview

The Colorado Buffaloes (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) took care of business in the Rocky Mountain Showdown and return to Folsom Field for a first-ever meeting with the Texas State Bobcats (1-0, NR Sun Belt). CU’s last Sun Belt Conference opponent came in 2005, when they pitched a 39-0 shutout against the New Mexico State Aggies. Texas State has never played a Pac-12 opponent.

Texas State is located in San Marcos, roughly the halfway point between Austin and San Antonio on Interstate 35. Texas’ fifth-largest university has a football history spanning over a century to 1904. Since joining the Sun Belt in 2013, TSU has posted one winning season (2014) and is winless in four tries against Power 5 conference schools.

Everett Withers enters his second season as head coach, looking for improvement after Texas State’s 2-10 record in 2016. The Bobcats pulled off a 20-11 victory last week against Houston Baptist behind Anthony Smith’s 48-yard touchdown and was the longest running play for Texas State since Nov. 28, 2015. Inexperience dominates the Bobcats, as Smith is one of eight first-time starters for TSU this season.

Steven Montez completed 21-of-29 passes for 202 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the season opener against CSU. Colorado’s 17-3 second-half shutout win against the Colorado State gave the Buffaloes a third-straight victory over the Rams. Another Rocky Mountain Showdown wrapped up with Phillip Lindsay running over CSU for 140 yards and a touchdown. The game featured the first scoreless second half in eight seasons for the Buffs, despite pass interference penalties against the Rams from a Pac-12 officiating crew that some called “controversial.”

Either way, it was a great debut for CU’s new defensive coaches including coordinator D.J. Eliot. The Buffs only allowed three points to the Rams, the lowest total since a 48-0 shutout of Nicholls on Sept. 26, 2015. According to Dave Plati, “That tied for the fewest points allowed in CU history in the first game with a new defensive coordinator, while the 88 yards rushing the Rams mustered was the 17th time since 1985 the Buffs held the opponent under 100 yards.”

Colorado welcomes Texas State into Folsom Field for Saturday’s home-opener at noon. According to Las Vegas Sports book Bovada, the Buffaloes are currently 35 point favorites over the Bobcats. TV: PAC12N, Steaming: Pac-12 Now app, Radio: 850 KOA.