Colorado State's encouraging start to life under first-year head coach Jim Mora came to an abrupt halt Saturday evening, as a ranked Big 12 opponent arrived in Fort Collins and made clear the gap between the programs in a lopsided nonconference result.
The two programs had not met in 16 years, their rivalry rooted in shared time in the WAC and Mountain West conferences, and BYU left no doubt Saturday, winning by a score of 41-23.
The Rams briefly matched the Cougars blow for blow early, responding to BYU's quick opening score with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that quarterback Hauss Hejny capped with a touchdown pass to wide receiver RJ Vick. That early promise dissolved quickly. BYU needed only three plays to score again on their next possession, and when the Rams punted in response, Hejny departed toward the sideline showing signs of distress in his right hamstring. He did not return, spending the remainder of the game helmetless on the bench following time in the injury tent.
UConn transfer K'Saan Farrar, who had competed with Hejny for the starting position through spring and summer practice, stepped in and completed 13 of 23 passes for 70 yards. Farrar's night also ended prematurely due to injury in the fourth quarter, at which point third-string quarterback Darius Curry — among the few offensive contributors carried over from the previous roster — took snaps to finish the game.
The quarterback carousel alone did not explain the margin. The Rams' defense never found a way to contain BYU's physical running game, and running back LJ Martin — last season's Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year — ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns on only 15 carries, averaging nearly 12 yards each time he touched the ball. When Colorado State stacked the box to limit the ground attack, sophomore signal-caller Bear Bachmeier took advantage through the air, hitting 12 of 16 targets for 227 yards.
The outcome, while painful, was not entirely surprising given that the Rams are only three games into a new coaching regime, with their first Pac-12 contest still a couple of weeks out. Entering Saturday, finishing the week at 2-1 with a road trip to San Antonio's Alamodome against UTSA on deck was considered a plausible benchmark for where the program stands.
The health status of both Hejny and Farrar ahead of next week's game against UTSA has not been determined.