2026 Week 4 Preview: Colorado State Rams @ UTSA Roadrunners

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Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, September 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Network: ESPNU
• Location: Alamodome — San Antonio, TX
• Spread: UTSA (-13.5)
• Over/under: 58.5
• All-time series: Colorado State leads, 2-1
• Last meeting: UTSA 17, Colorado State 16 — September 20, 2025
• Current streak: UTSA, 1 (2025)

Setting the scene

Last season’s matchup in Fort Collins was a wild one.

It was mundane, offensive struggle of game that featured 14 punts… until the final seven minutes of action. Colorado State knotted the score at 10-10 on its first touchdown with 6:19 remaining. UTSA immediate answered with a 74-yard touchdown, and then the Rams tied the game once again on a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive — notching the game-tying touchdown with 29 seconds left.

With the score in balance at 17-17, Colorado State elected to take a point off the board. UTSA jumped offsides on the successful extra point, and the Rams accepted the penalty, wanting to gamble for the winning two-point try instead. It failed, and UTSA picked up a rare road win.

The Roadrunners are 3-11 on the road since 2024, but they are 11-2 at home in the same timespan. They’ll host an improved Colorado State team that may or may not be without its rising star quarterback.

Colorado State Rams outlook

Colorado State (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12) only needed two weeks to match its 2025 win total. Jim Mora Jr. had UCLA as a fixture in the rankings in the mid-2010s, and he secured back-to-back nine-win seasons at a previously dormant UConn program.

Mora’s impact is already showing at Colorado State. However, the Rams simply ran into a juggernaut last week, trailing BYU 38-7 after three quarters before 15 minutes of mop-up time.

The No. 1 question entering this game asks, who is Colorado State’s quarterback? The Rams seemingly unlocked a star in Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny, who threw for 539 yards, rushed for 124, and accounted for 10 total touchdowns in the first two weeks. Hejny was off to a strong start against BYU before limping to the sideline in the first quarter. Dealing with a hamstring injury, his availability for Saturday remains unknown.

Colorado State turned to two different quarterbacks in his absence against BYU. UConn transfer K’saan Farrar was the first one off the bench, completing 13-of-20 passes for 70 yards and an interception. Darius Jackson, a returning Ram who threw 107 passes last year, led the two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, finishing 6-of-8 for 70 yards and a touchdown. So not only is Hejny’s status a question, but Mora and staff have not revealed if Farrar or Curry gets the start if QB1 is unable to go.

Hejny is also essential to the ground game, ranking second on the team with 128 rushing yards. Without him, Colorado State may lean more on the former UConn backs Mel Brown and Durell Robinson. Brown starred with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, and he’s known as a home-run threat running back. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry under Mora at UConn last season and has climbed to a 9.8 average this year.

Another running back to monitor is Cedric Ross, who currently leads the team in receiving yardage. The other frequented targets include RJ Vick, Jackson Harper, and Terrence Smith — who all have multiple touchdown receptions this year. Even if Hejny is unable to go, they’ll get their targets as Colorado State ranks 17th nationally and second in the Pac-12 in passing attempts per game.

The Ram defense showed some concerns against FCS Southern Utah in Week 2, surrendering 442 yards and 21 first half points. And it could have been worse if Southern Utah didn’t turn the ball over four times. Right now, the unit has been able to lean on turnovers as a crutch, and its plus-8 turnover margin ranks second in the FBS behind New Mexico.

Cornerback CJ Blocker already has three interceptions, while middle linebacker Oumar Diomande has two. The Rams are tied for first nationally with seven picks and check in at seventh with five forced fumbles. However, the defense ranks 121st in yards allowed. Most of that can be attributed to the inability to stop the run, as opponents are generating 227 rushing yards per game on a 6.0 average.

UTSA Roadrunners outlook

UTSA (2-1, 0-0 American) still hasn’t left the Central Texas region this year. This is the Roadrunners’ first matchup in the Alamodome since Week 1 after splitting road games at Texas State and Texas the last two weeks. They overcame a 17-7 second half deficit against their archrival Bobcats, but that same fortune didn’t translate when they faced the No. 1 Longhorns, bowing out in 30-6 fashion.

The Roadrunners didn’t show it against a commanding Texas defense, but this offense has explosive capabilities. UTSA is the only American Conference team with a third-year starting quarterback, and Owen McCown continues to improve with time. His current 69.6 completion percentage is his career-high since becoming the starter, and he boasts a 4-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. McCown was the most essential component to the Texas State comeback, leading UTSA to multiple fourth down conversions on the game-winning drive.

UTSA operates with a three-man backfield, and all three have been effective this season. Will Henderson III is the leader of the group, posting 219 yards and a touchdown. A’Marion Peterson and Brandon High Jr. have complemented him nicely with a collective 220 yards and three scores. The Roadrunners have enjoyed quality run blocking and pass protection from a veteran offensive line which has only allowed one sack through three games — and that includes a matchup at Texas.

Four wide receivers are among the other names to watch offensively. DJ Allen and AJ Wilson are on pace to shatter their 2025 totals, while Mekhi Anderson has been the No. 1 breakout player in the room. UTSA hasn’t involved longtime staple David Amador II as much yet, but he offers 96 career receptions in orange and blue.

UTSA has been equipped with the offensive firepower to contend in the American for years. Defense has always been the limiting factor, but the unit has been commendable thus far. Texas State, which scored 49 on North Texas last Saturday, managed only 26 points against the Roadrunners. Meanwhile, Texas notched just three touchdowns, finished 17-of-34 in the passing game, punted three times, and turned it over on downs twice.

The defensive back play has noticeably taken a step foward. The Chapman twins — Asaad and Ahamad — have excelled at cornerback, with Asaad breaking up three passes and Ahamad returnng a pick-six in the opener. The secondary has managed four interceptions while giving up just three touchdowns.

However, UTSA needs more push up front. The Roadrunners have recorded two sacks all season and struggle with tackling at the first level. Opponents’ ground games are capitalizing, producing 232 rushing yards per game against the 135th-ranked run defense in the FBS.

There is one fatal flaw to UTSA that cannot be ignored: penalties. UTSA has the most penalty yards in the FBS at 115.0 per game. The problem is, this is a trend. The Roadunners were flagged for the seventh-most penalty yards in 2025 and the third-most in 2026. They’ve accrued at least 11 penalties and exactly 115 penalty yards in all three outings.

Prediction

There are a ton of questions involving Colorado State, leading to a lack of clarity in this matchup. It’s not just the quarterback position, as three different players could realistically take the first snap of the game in the Alamodome. Also, the Rams haven’t played an opponent on similar stature yet. Colorado State was clearly offensively levels ahead of Wyoming, then faced FCS competition, and most recently battled a College Football Playoff-caliber BYU squad.

Is UTSA that opponent? The Roadrunners collected a Pac-12 victory in Week 2 over Texas State and now face another opponent from the reformed conference. Last Saturday’s thrashing at Texas wasn’t great for the Roadrunners, but the team has shown to be a high-powered offense and capable secondary in its other games.

Colorado State keeps it close with a strong showing on the ground, but UTSA ultimately prevails in a back-and-forth affair.

Prediction: UTSA 31, Colorado State 28

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