Another Upset From The Mountain West Conference: Colorado State Defeats Colorado

This one will fly under the radar but the Mountain West Conference got another feather in their cap when Colorado State stunned Colorado at Folsom Field in Boulder 23-17. It's the Rams first win at Folsom since 1986 and gave the MWC a 2-1 advantage over the Big 12 Conference (Texas A&M defeated New Mexico.)

“We won in Boulder so this is huge. It’s a big lift and a confidence builder and big for Fort Collins.” Colorado State offensive lineman Cole Pemberton said.

“(The win) is still such a shock right now. I can’t even comprehend how big this is.” Colorado State quarterback Grant Stucker said.

Stucker, a senior, started his first game Sunday night for the Rams. Having only thrown three passes in 3 years at CSU Stucker threw for 208 yards and a touchdown. Not a bad performance in the den of Folsom Field.

"Not bad for a kid who had never started a game." Colorado State head coach Steve Fairchild said. "I will certainly pat him on the back, because that is not easy to come to a place like this and playing like that.”

It was clear that Colorado is struggled in this game. The Buffaloes running game never got it going averaging 1.4 yards per carry. Buff starting quarterback Cody Hawkins was shaky going 24 for 41 for 222 yards and one touchdown and one interception but the younger Hawkins didn't endure himself to the Buff fans losing at home to what is perceived to be a weaker in-state rival.

Next up for the Buffs is a road game at Toledo Friday night. Colorado better regroup in a hurry or they might feel the Rockets red glare and head coach Dan Hawkins won't have fun explaining how the Buffs got into an 0-2 hole off the bat.

Back to Colorado State, the Rams are clearly a program on the rise in the MWC and ready to contribute to the success the MWC has against BCS schools.

Colorado is the only BCS team CSU faces this year but this win is a boost of confidence for the Rams. They will need to ride that momentum for a while for BYU looms in three weeks at Provo then 2 weeks later Utah comes to Fort Collins and then a trip to Ft. Worth to battle TCU is the next week.

The Mountain West Conference just got more entertaining.

Photo Courtesy: John Leyba/The Denver Post