A new era for the Rams
Colorado State entered preseason camp in early August with a starkly different outlook. For the first time in years the program is not just adding a new head coach but also a nearly brand‑new staff, and almost 70 players have been replaced on the roster.
Head coach Jim Mora, who left his post at UConn to take the helm in Fort Collins, arrived with a $2.4 million salary and a mandate to reshape a program that has languished in the lower tiers of the Pac‑12. His arrival coincides with a substantial investment that the university hopes will translate into more consistent wins.
The offensive side of the ball brings a few bright spots. Running back Mel Brown and tight end Juice Vereen are being highlighted as the most promising playmakers, while the quarterback competition between Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny and UConn transfer K’Saan Farrar will likely set the tone for the offense.
Defensively, the Rams must replace a handful of injured stalwarts. JaQues Evans, Gabe Jones, Mukendi Wa‑Kalonji and Jaxxon Warren missed large portions of the 2025 season, and the team is counting on UConn transfer Oumar Diomande to inject disruption into the linebacker corps.
The line itself is young, with fewer than 40 combined FBS starts among the expected starters. Mora has emphasized size and physicality, but the unit will rely heavily on youth and raw talent.
Perhaps the most uncertain element is the team’s identity. Mora’s West Coast, pro‑style tendencies must mesh with a roster that features a mix of transfers and holdovers, and the coach admits that defining a clear style will be a work in progress.
Attendance could become a measurable success indicator. The Rams are targeting record crowds for early September home games against Wyoming and BYU, hoping the excitement over the new era will translate into fuller stands.
If the projections hold, Colorado State is slated to finish seventh or eighth in the revamped Pac‑12 and to exceed a 3.5 win total, a modest but meaningful benchmark for a program that has been labeled an underachiever over the past decade.