2020 Colorado State Rams football team
American college football season
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The 2020 Colorado State Rams football team represented Colorado State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Originally, there was a cancellation of the 2020 season for the Mountain West Conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] but this was reversed when the conference agreed to play a conference-only, eight game season. The Rams were to play their opening game at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado against New Mexico, but the game was canceled due to virus restrictions. The Rams were led by first-year head coach Steve Addazio.
- Steve Addazio (1st season)
| 2020 Colorado State Rams football | |
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| Conference | Mountain West Conference |
| Record | 1–3 (1–3 MW) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Joey Lynch (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Chuck Heater (3rd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Canvas Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 San Jose State y$ | 6 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boise State y | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada | 6 | – | 2 | 7 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego State | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno State | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Air Force | 2 | – | 2 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Mexico | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado State | 1 | – | 3 | 1 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah State | 1 | – | 5 | 1 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UNLV | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: San Jose State 34, Boise State 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule
The modified schedule included a game against New Mexico on October 24 that was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.[3] The November 21 game vs. UNLV was also canceled due to COVID-19 cases related to contact tracing within the UNLV program.[4] The November 26 game at Air Force was also canceled due to COVID-19 cases related to contact tracing within the Colorado State program.[5] The December 12 game vs. Utah State was canceled by Utah State University as a result of a Utah State player boycott in protest of comments made by their university president that they perceived as discriminatory.[6]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 24 | 7:00 p.m. | New Mexico | FS2 | Cancelled | ||
| October 29 | 8:00 p.m. | at Fresno State | CBSSN | L 17–38 | 0 (behind closed doors) | |
| November 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Wyoming |
| CBSSN | W 34–24 | 0 (behind closed doors) |
| November 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Boise State | FS1 | L 21–52 | 1,100 | |
| November 21 | 3:30 p.m. | UNLV |
| FS2 | Cancelled | |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Air Force |
| CBSSN | Cancelled | |
| December 5 | 8:30 p.m. | at San Diego State | CBSSN | L 17–29 | 0 (behind closed doors) | |
| December 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Utah State |
| CBSSN | Cancelled | |
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Preseason
Colorado State announced its 2020 football schedule on February 27, 2020.[8] The 2020 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][9] On September 25, the Mountain West announced the 2020 season would return with a revised 8-game, conference only season beginning October 24.[10]
In August 2020, the university temporarily suspended the football program and initiated investigations into accusations of racism and verbal abuse of players by the coaching staff.[11] However, the subsequent investigation found that the majority of athletes and staff disputed these accusations, and in October 2020, the investigation concluded and the team was cleared.[12]
Wide receiver Warren Jackson was unanimously selected to the Mountain West Conference Preseason All-Conference Team, though he later opted out of the modified season to train for the NFL draft.[13] Tight end Trey McBride, linebacker Dequan Jackson, and punter Ryan Stonehouse were also named to the 2020 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Game summaries
Fresno State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
Wyoming
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Rams | 14 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
Boise State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Broncos | 21 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 52 |
San Diego State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Aztecs | 7 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 29 |
Personnel
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Colorado State in current position |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Addazio | Head coach | 1st |
| Joey Lynch | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach | 1st |
| Chuck Heater | Defensive coordinator/safeties coach | 1st |
| Antoine Smith | Assistant head coach/defensive line coach | 1st |
| Louie Addazio | Offensive line coach | 1st |
| Brian White | Running backs coach | 1st |
| Cody Booth | Tight ends coach | 1st |
| Kenny Guiton | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
| Sean Cronin | Linebackers coach | 1st |
| Kap Dede | Outside Linebackers/nickelbacks coach | 1st |
| Anthony Perkins | Cornerbacks coach | 2nd |
| Scott McLafferty | Head strength and conditioning coach | 1st |
Roster
| 2020 Colorado State Rams Football Roster | ||||||||||
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Placekickers
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Long snappers
Punters
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= Redshirted for the 2020 season. | Rs. = Redshirted in a previous season.
[14]
Awards and honors
Mountain West All-Conference selections:
- Scott Patchan, DE (First team)
- Ryan Stonehouse, P (First team)
- Dante Wright, WR (Second team)
- Trey McBride, TE (Second team)
- Dequan Jackson, LB (Second team)
After the season
Outgoing transfers
Colorado State lost 12 athletes to the transfer portal, per the Coloradoan.[16]
| Position | Name | Year | High school | Hometown | Seasons at CSU | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Patrick O'Brien | Rd. Senior | San Juan Hills | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 2018, 2019, 2020 | Washington |
| RB | Tyreese Jackson | Rd. Freshman | Westgate | Jeanerette, LA | 2019, 2020 | Louisiana |
| WR | Nate Craig-Myers | Rd. Senior | Tampa Catholic | Dade City, FL | 2019, 2020 | UCF |
| WR | Jeremiah Pruitte | Rd. Freshman | Wheeler | Marietta, GA | 2019, 2020 | Florida A&M |
| WR | Jadon Walker | Rd. Junior | Chapel Hill | Lithia Springs, GA | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | N/A |
| DL | Casey Irons Jr. | Freshman | Gilmer | Gilmer, TX | 2020 | Northern Colorado |
| DL | Livingston Paogofie | Senior | Bowie | Arlington, TX | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | Dixie State |
| DB | Keevan Bailey | Sophomore | Salem | Conyers, GA | 2019, 2020 | N/A |
| DB | Caleb Blake | Rd. Freshman | Bishop Moore | Winter Haven, FL | 2019, 2020 | Florida State |
| DB | Christian Cumber | Rd. Junior | Mullen | Denver, CO | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | N/A |
| DB | Xavier Goldsmith | Rd. Freshman | Cass Technical | Detroit, MI | 2019, 2020 | Idaho State |
| DB | Dajon Owens | Senior | Gardena | Los Angeles, CA | 2018, 2019, 2020 | Stony Brook |