Live Recap: Boise State football team blasts Colorado State in Mountain West showdown

BOISE, Idaho — Is there a battle for this division in the Mountain West?

Or is it all Boise State's to cruise through the Mountain Division and cruise to the league title game?

Despite the poor nonconference start, the Colorado State football team (2-5, 2-1 MW) is one of two teams with just one league loss and in striking distance of Boise State (5-2, 4-0 MW).

The teams play at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Does Boise State continue its dominance of the Rams? Or does CSU fight back?

Follow along with updates from Coloradoan reporter Kevin Lytle live from Boise.

Final

Boise State 49, CSU 10

Read more about it:

Lytle:Bowled over by Boise State, CSU football has a long way to go

3 takeaways:Boise State football team delivers shellacking to Colorado State

CSU forces turnover

Henry Blackburn with a sack, strip and recovery to give Rams the ball at the Boise State 7.

CSU could not take advantage when Stratton was intercepted on a 4th and goal play.

It's backups time

Boise State has brought in the 'B' squad to close this one out, with it long done as a contest.

CSU is also starting to roll in some backups for some fourth-quarter reps, with Jackson Stratton taking over at QB.

End third quarter

Boise State leads 49-10.

Another Green TD

Taylen Green throws a 15-yard TD to Billy Bowens.

It's 49-10 Boise State with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

Holani making a lot from short

George Holani has three TD runs, all from a single yard out. The latest comes in the middle of the third quarter after CSU turned it over on downs in its own half.

This one is over as a competition.

Boise State's lead is 42-10 with 8:41 to go in the third quarter.

Boise State strikes again

Redshirt freshman Taylen Green might be a problem for the Mountain West the rest of this season and in the future.

His 10-yard touchdown run on Boise State's first drive of the second half was a beauty.

His state line so far is equally nice. He's 18-23 passing for 247 yards and a touchdown. He has 13 rush yards and a TD.

Boise State lead is 35-10 with 12:13 to go in the third quarter.

Halftime

Boise State 28, Colorado State 10.

Jonah Dalmas attempted a 39-yard field goal in the final seconds, but missed. It came after a Boise State TD pass was ruled out on replay.

Yardage is 321-109 in favor of Boise State at the break.

Colorado State deep ball TD

There's the deep ball ability that's been so elusive for CSU in recent weeks.

Clay Millen throws a deep bomb right in stride for Justus Ross-Simmons for a 76-yard touchdown. Rams cut Boise State lead to 28-10 with 1:47 before half.

It's Millen's first TD pass since Week 3 (also to Ross-Simmons) and sixth of the season.

Boise State running away

Ashton Jeanty with a 1-yard TD run (Boise State's third-such score of the game) and the Broncos go up 28-3 on CSU with 2:26 until half.

It caps an eight-play, 63-yard drive. The total yardage is a stunning 268-27 in favor of the Broncos right now.

CSU's offensive line struggling

CSU is using its sixth offensive line combination of the season and the group is struggling. The Rams have given up four sacks already with more than 6 minutes remaining before the half.

Another Boise State touchdown

Taylen Green with a great throw and toe-tap catch by Riley Smith on an 8-yard pass to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive for Boise State.

Green had 68 pass yards on the drive. Boise State threatening to run away here, leading 21-3 with 11:14 until halftime.

Colorado State field goal

Michael Boyle hits a 41-yard field goal to get CSU on the board.

The Rams drove downfield with a 33-yard deep ball from Clay Millen to Tory Horton, with a 15-yard roughing penalty tacked on.

The field goal ended the first quarter. Boise State leads 14-3 heading to the second quarter.

Avery Morrow injured

With 2:30 left in the first quarter CSU running back Avery Morrow went down with an injury. He has three 100-yard games in a row.

Keegan Holles was next back in for Morrow.

*Update: Morrow returned to the field early in the second quarter.

Another Boise State touchdown

CSU has 4 total yards of offense on its first three drives and now the Rams trail 14-0 after Holani's second TD of the game.

The Broncos go six plays for 47 yards with 1-yard Holani touchdowns on back-to-back drives. Yardage is 105-4 at this point.

Boise State lead is 14-0 with 3:19 left in the first quarter.

Touchdown Boise State

Broncos draw first blood with a quick five-play, 51-yard drive capped by a 1-yard TD run from George Holani.

It was Boise State's second drive of the game, following back-to-back 3-and-outs from CSU.

Boise State up 7-0 with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

A new center

True freshman, walk-on Keegan Hamilton is starting at center for Colorado State with George Miki-Han out injured. He's the fourth different starting center this season for the Rams and the sixth different starting offensive line group.

CSU cornerback Greg Laday appears to still be unavailable for the Rams.

CSU to receive opening kick

It's time to go in Boise. The Rams will receive the first-half kickoff on The Blue.

Uniform time

CSU is wearing a traditional look of the gold pants, white jersey and green and gold helmet.

Boise State is in all orange, the same combo the Broncos wore two seasons ago against CSU.

Number updates

An FYI if you're watching on TV: CSU star defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara is wearing jersey No. 8 (instead of his usual 42). CSU receiver Justice McCoy is now No. 18.

Roster updates

A couple more departures on the CSU football team this week. The Rams are in the low 60s in scholarship players now (the FBS max is 85). Check out the latest news in the roster tracker:

Roster departures:Tracking Colorado State football roster changes

Jay Norvell's record in Boise

While this is Jay Norvell's first game leading the Rams against Boise State, he has plenty of familiarity facing the Broncos and playing in Boise.

Nevada beat Boise State on The Blue in 2021 and won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2020 over Tulane. Norvall also led Nevada in the Potato Bowl in 2019 (a loss to Ohio) and played at Boise State in 2017 (a loss).

Here are his five games in Boise before Saturday:

• 2017: 41-14 loss at Boise State for Nevada

• 2018: 31-27 loss vs. Boise State at Nevada

• 2019: 30-21 loss to Ohio in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

• 2020: 38-27 win over Tulane in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

• 2021: 41-31 win at Boise State for Nevada

Pregame reading

A selection of stories to read in advance of the CSU-Boise State football game:

Ranking potential wins: Which of final five games would be biggest victory for CSU?

Midseason report: CSU football MVP, biggest surprise and more

How to watch: All your gameday info for CSU-Boise State

Depth chart: A look at the CSU football two-deep

CSU football's tough history against Boise State

The Rams are the only current Mountain West team who hasn't beat Boise State. One way or another, CSU has always lost to the Broncos.

It's an 11-0 record for Boise State heading into Saturday's game and in a mix of ways. Here's a look at the history:

• First matchup: A dynamic Boise State team racks up more than 700 yards of offense in a 63-13 shellacking in Fort Collins.

• Near misses: CSU has come close several times. A 42-30 loss in 2013, a 37-24 defeat in 2014, a 28-23 loss in 2016 and, most famously, a 59-52 defeat in 2017.

• About that 2017 game: It's one of the biggest "what ifs" in modern CSU football history. The Rams led 35-10 late in the first half and looked on the way to a massive win, one that could have led CSU to playing for a Mountain West title. Instead the Rams collapsed, an on-side kick recovery helped Boise State get it to overtime where CSU literally fumbled the game away. What would have happened to the program if the Rams held on?

• Special teams nightmare: There are plenty of games that go down as not good showings from Steve Addazio's Rams, but this might have been a lowlight. Boise State blocked three first half kicks (two punts and a field goal) and returned them all for touchdowns in a lopsided 52-21 loss for CSU.

What's next? Surely, CSU will beat Boise State sometime. But when?

Why is the Boise State field blue?

From across the States and around the world people come to see The Blue. Boise State's iconic blue turf field is known far and wide. And no, there isn't a big issue of birds crash landing on the field.

Here's a look at the inside story of how it came together:

The Blue:The story behind Boise State's blue football field

Coverage in Boise

The Coloradoan is the only media outlet who covers the CSU football team at home and on the road to bring you the most in-depth coverage of the Rams.

If you don't already, please consider a digital subscription to the Coloradoan. A subscription gives you access to every story, photo gallery and video about your Rams, including stories exclusively available to subscribers.

And here's a look at Boise this Saturday morning on a beautiful fall day.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Live updates, score: Boise State football team hosts Colorado State