RENO, Nev. — Jay Norvell and the Colorado State football team return to Nevada.
It’s the second time for Norvell, the former Nevada coach, to face the Wolf Pack as a member of the Rams. CSU built a 28-0 lead in the third quarter and held on for another Mountain West win.
Follow along for live updates and highlights throughout Saturday’s game at Mackay Stadium.
Colorado State 38, Nevada 21
Takeaways:Colorado State football bowl eligible after Jay Norvell, Rams beat Nevada
— Kevin Lytle
Rams eat up the clock and Nevada’s timeouts and Jordan Noyes hits a 35-yard field goal to make sure this one ends in a CSU win.
Rams lead 38-21 with 1:11 to go.
— Kevin Lytle
CSU’s defense can’t slow Nevada anymore.
An impressive one-handed touchdown catch for Nevada makes it 35-21 with 4:22 to go.
— Kevin Lytle
Nevada tried an onsides kick after the score. CSU recovered and marched down the field.
Avery Morrow scored from 15 yards out to cap a 59-yard drive in 3:34.
Rams are up 35-14 with 8:42 to go. That should probably secure the win.
— Kevin Lytle
Brendon Lewis with a 3-yard TD run to make it 28-14 with 12:16 to go.
Wolf Pack went 95 yards in 12 plays (in 6:07). Rams need to take the sting out of this one.
— Kevin Lytle
Colorado State 28, Nevada 7.
Nevada 3rd and 14 at CSU’s 40 to start the fourth quarter. Rams are 15 minutes from becoming bowl eligible.
— Kevin Lytle
Nevada charges down the field, with a 57-yard pass from Brendon Lewis to Cortez Braham the key.
Two plays later, Lewis with a 3-yard TD run. It’s not over yet. Nevada went 75 yards in six plays.
CSU lead is 28-7 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
— Kevin Lytle
On the kickoff after the field goal, Nevada let the ball drop. It bounced back to the goal line. CSU’s Caleb Goodie raced in, blew up the returner trying to pick it up.
It bounced into the end zone and Jace Bellah jumped on it for a TD. Yes, CSU scored a touchdown off its own kickoff.
Rams then converted the two-point.
It’s 28-0 CSU with 11:27 left in third.
— Kevin Lytle
Rams don’t take full advantage of turnover, but do add three points. Jordan Noyes hits a 21-yard field goal.
He did bang a first attempt off the post after a bad snap, but Nevada was offsides and CSU takes advantage.
It’s 20-0 CSU with 11:30 left in third quarter.
— Kevin Lytle
First play of second half: Nevada completes a roughly 8-yard pass and Ayden Hector rips the ball out and Gabe Kirschke jumps on it.
CSU ball at Nevada’s 31, Rams already up 17-0.
— Kevin Lytle
Colorado State 17, Nevada 0.
CSU kicks off to open second half.
Yardage is 177-157 for CSU. Nevada just 1-6 on third downs, while CSU is 3-6.
CSU 30 minutes from bowl eligibility.
— Kevin Lytle
Nevada charges downfield with some Brendon Lewis running and get all the way to CSU’s 2 but Rams get two stops, including on a fourth-down play to keep Nevada off the board.
— Kevin Lytle
Jordan Noyes thumps a 60-yard field goal.
CSU is up 17-0 with 5:27 until half.
It’s the longest field goal in Mackay Stadium history. It’s tied for the second-longest in CSU history.
Nevada called a timeout before the first attempt, which Noyes also hit.
— Kevin Lytle
Will CSU rue the missed chances to make this a huge lead? Rams, up 14-0, had a wide open deep ball to freshman Jordan Ross. BFN put it on the money but Ross simply dropped it and CSU had to punt.
Next drive, CSU gets ball at Nevada 41 after a shank and first play is a flea-flicker TD but it’s wiped off due to a hold.
— Kevin Lytle
CSU’s star center Jacob Gardner was injured late in the first quarter and he has been deemed “out” for the game, per CSU spokesperson Jeff Schmidt.
Gardner is central to what CSU does on offense and he has started 54 consecutive games in college.
— Kevin Lytle
Colorado State 14, Nevada 0.
Nevada has a 3rd and 11 from CSU’s 43 to start the second.
— Kevin Lytle
An eventful second drive for CSU. Early on center Jacob Gardner, the fulcrum to what CSU does offensively, goes down injured. Trevyn Heil comes in for him.
Shortly after Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hits Caleb Goodie for a 55-yard strike. He fumbles fighting for yardage, but Dane Olson (there he is again!) follows and recovers the fumble.
Two plays later Justin Marshall runs in from 8 yards out.
CSU is up 14-0 with 2:20 left first quarter.
— Kevin Lytle
A perfect first drive for CSU. Rams had a 3rd and 11 and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hits a 41-yard strike to Dane Olson, who made a sensational diving catch.
Then it was the run game, capped with a 7-yard TD run for Avery Morrow.
CSU up 7-0 with 10:40 left in first quarter. It was a 67-yard drive in seven plays, using 4:14 of clock.
— Kevin Lytle
Nevada wins toss, defers. Rams will receive opening kick.
— Kevin Lytle
Out for CSU: Starting safety Jack Howell, backup safety Jaylen Gardner.
Jett Vincent could step in at safety. Rams could also slide nickel Ayden Hector to safety.
Paddy Turner didn’t look to be punting during warmups, it will likely be Bryan Hansen on punts (Turner is in uniform and will still likely handle holding duties).
— Kevin Lytle
Some reading to prepare CSU fans for the game:
▶Matt Lubick ready to coach against Colorado State with Nevada after cancer battle
▶Why Jay Norvell left Nevada and what Jeff Choate says about the Nevada job
▶Colorado State vs Nevada predictions, picks, odds: Who wins Week 10 college football game?
▶Bowl projections: Where will Colorado State football play if Rams become bowl eligible?
— Kevin Lytle
— Kevin Lytle
Colorado State vs. Nevada will broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network in Week 10 of the 2024 college football season. Chris Lewis and Robert Turbin will call the game from the booth at Mackay Stadium, with Amanda Guerra reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include and Fubo TV, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
— Kevin Lytle
— Kevin Lytle
Nevada is battling injury and the fatigue that comes with program turnover. Coach Jeff Choate will have the Wolf Pack ready and Lewis will cause CSU problems. That said, CSU’s rushing attack is built to grind out games like this and former Nevada back Avery Morrow will be particularly motivated in this one.
A big game from Morrow (100-plus yards) and one or two key shot plays in the passing game lead the Rams to another close win.
CSU 24, Nevada 20. Read the full keys to the game and prediction here.
— Kevin Lytle
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
— Kevin Lytle
The biggest question marks for Colorado State are in the secondary. Starting safety Jack Howell left last week’s game injured. Norvell on Wednesday said his status was uncertain. His backup, Jaylen Gardner, has also been injured.
Nevada has a long injury list, but QB Brendon Lewis will play after missing last week’s game.
— Kevin Lytle
Saturday’s high in Reno will be 51 degrees. Temp is expected to drop into the low 40s by the end of the game. Sunset of 5:55 p.m. will come early in the game.
— Kevin Lytle
— Kevin Lytle
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
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